To explore the effects of applyingQiangxin Formula of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM）in acute and chronic phases of rat heart failure models under overload.Methods：A total of 45 Sprague-Dawley(SD）rats were randomly divided into 3 groups：group A(sham operation),group B(simple ostomy cardiac overload）and group C(cardiac overload+Qiangxin Formula treatment).The model of heart failureinduced by overload was made and the corresponding treatment were applied.Biochemical indexes such as oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinases were detected in the acute phase(3 days),and the left ventricular size and function were evaluated in the long term(8 weeks).Results：The density of left ventricular mast cells in the group B was significantly higher than that in the group A and C(P<0.05).The increase of mast cell density in the group B was significantly correlated with the increase of MMP-2 activity.The level of oxidative stress was increased significantlyunderoverload,in which the average level of the groupB was significantly higher than that of the group Aand C.The weight of the ventricle was significantly higher than that of the groupA; the weight of the right ventricle and the lung tissue was also significantly increased compared with the groupA,however,Qiangxin Formula could significantly reduce the weight gain of the left and right ventricles and lungs; Qiangxin Formula could reduce the overall body weight of the rat compared with the group B(P<0.05).Compared with the V0 data of the group A,there was significant left ventricular dilatation in the group B; Qiangxin Formula could significantly reduce the increase of left ventricular volume(P<0.05); myocardial compliance showed that Qiangxin Formula could reduceitsincrease(P<0.05 compared withthe group B).The systolic pressure-volume data suggested that the ventricular contraction was significantly inhibited as the cardiac overload was continuously loading(P<0.05),and thecontractive functionsof rats in the groupC andA were basically the same.Conclusion：The preliminary results of the study showed that Qiangxin Formula has a significant functional cardioprotective effect on rat models of heart failure induced by overload,and this protective effect may be related to the inhibition of MMP activity and oxidative stressreaction.