title: Effect of magnesium tanshinoate B on the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator which plays an important role in regulating vascular tones. Danshen, a Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium tanshinoate B (MTB), a compound purified from Danshen, on the production of NO in human endothelial cell line (ECV304). After cells were incubated with MTB (1-10 microM) for 1 or 4 h, amounts of NO metabolites released by cells were quantified and cellular NOS activities were determined following the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline. The NOS protein expression was determined by Western immunoblotting analysis. MTB (1-10 microM) stimulated the release of NO and its metabolites from endothelial cells. Following MTB treatment, the cellular NOS activities were significantly enhanced with a concomitant increase in the levels of constitutive NOS (cNOS) protein mass (110-178%). Selective activation of cNOS by MTB may be employed therapeutically in modulating NO production in endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, China.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Siow
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010618:Phenanthrolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010618:Phenanthrolines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C028972:dan-shen root extract; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III