Ligusticum wallichi-induced vasorelaxation mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase in rat aortic smooth muscle.
Traditional herbal medicines have been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular disorders in oriental countries. To determine the effects of Ch1LW, a chloroform extract of Ligusticum wallichi, on the vascular system, we studied changes in rat aortic smooth muscle in terms of magnitude of contraction and the activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Ch1LW inhibited the muscle contraction induced by norepinephrine (NE) in aortic strips. Ch1LW also abolished Ca2+-independent contraction evoked by 12-deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate in Ca2+-free medium containing 1 mM EGTA. Furthermore, western blotting analysis using phosphorylated MAPK antibodies showed that NE increased the activity of both extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK, which were inhibited by PD98059 and SB203580, blockers of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, respectively. Furthermore, treatment with Ch1LW significantly abolished NE-mediated activation of ERK1/2, whereas the activity of p38 MAPK was not affected by the extract. These results suggest that Ch1LW induces vasorelaxation in rat aortic smooth muscle, which may be mediated by the inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway, but not p38 MAPK.
Kim
Bokyung
B
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Konkuk University, Danwol-dong 322, Chungju, Choong-Buk 380-701, South Korea. bkkim2@kku.ac.kr
Kim
Junghwan
J
Kim
Aeran
A
Kim
Yoon-Sun
YS
Lee
Youn Ri
YR
Bae
Young Min
YM
Cho
SungIl
S
Rhyu
Mee-Ra
MR
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D030004:Ligusticum; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D010936:Plant Extracts; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases