[Study on effect of Puerarin on nitric oxide system in rats' tissue and its mechanism].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Puerarin on nitric oxide (NO) content and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in rats' tissue.


METHODS
Sixteen adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, 8 in each group. The Purerain group was intraperitoneal administered Puerarin 80 mg/kg.d and the control group was given propylene glycol by intraperitoneal injection for 30 days. The NO content in rats' heart, brain, liver and kidney was determined by nitratase method and NOS was detected by oxyhemoglobin oxidation method. Besides, the electromicroscopic examination on rats' liver and brain was also conducted.


RESULTS
NO content in heart, brain, liver and kidney in the Puerarin group was significantly higher than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). NOS was detected only in heart and brain in both groups and it was also higher in the Puerarin group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No abnormal ultrastructure was detected by electromicroscope in liver and brain of both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing NO content and NOS activity in tissues may be one of the mechanism for pharmaceutical action of Puerarin.
Wu
P
P
First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400016.
Zeng
F
F
Ma
H X
HX
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D007529:Isoflavones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C033607:puerarin