OBJECTIVE: To explore the intervention effects of Ligusticum Chuanxiong extract on rats with chronic heart failure and explore its mechanism through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS: The rat model of chronic heart failure was established by abdominal aortic constriction combined with strenuous swimming. Electrocardiogram was used to detect the changes of electrocardiogram before and after modeling. After successful modeling

the rats were divided into the model group（n=10） and experimental group（n=10）

and 10 rats without model were set as the control group. The experimental group was given Ligusticum Chuanxiong extract（100 mg/kg） once a day for 4 weeks

and the control group and model group received the same amount of 0.9% sodium chloride solution gavage. At the end of the experiment

the heart rate and respiratory rate of rats in each group were detected

and LVIDd

LVIDS

LVEF and LVFS were detected. The pathological state of rat heart tissue was detected by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining. Ultrastructural changes of heart tissues were detected by electron microscope

and the expression of key molecules Dvl3

GSKβ

β-catenin in heart tissues was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Ultrasound results showed that LVIDd and LVIDS of the model group were significantly higher than those of control group

LVEF and LVFS were significantly lower than those of control group

LVIDd and LVIDs of experimental group were significantly lower than those of model group

LVEF and LVFS were significantly higher than those of model group

the differences were statistically significant（P<0.01）. HE staining and electron microscopy results showed that heart tissues of the model group were damaged

while the experimental group was less than the model group. Western blotting results showed that expression levels of Dvl3

GSKβ and β-catenin in the model group were significantly higher than those in the experimental group

and there was a significant downward trend compared with the model group（P<0.01）. CONCLUSIONS: Ligusticum Chuanxiong extract has protective effects on the heart of chronic heart failure rats

and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of Wnt/β-catanin signaling pathway.