Inhibitory effects of bezoar bovis on intimal formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in rat.
Intimal formation of animal carotid arteries induced by balloon endothelial denudation has been considered to be an "accelerated atherosclerosis" model and used in primary screening methods to evaluate natural drugs and chemical candidates. The aim of the present study was to examine whether intimal formation is prevented by Bezoar Bovis (dried cattle gallbladder stones: Niuhuang in Chinese and Go-o in Japanese), which has been used to prevent heart palpitation in patients with hypertension. The intimal-to-medial area ratio in rat carotid arteries 7 days after balloon endothelial denudation was significantly reduced by oral administration of Bezoar Bovis. Bezoar Bovis also suppressed vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferation, which is thought to play important roles in the intimal formation after endothelial damage and also atherosclerosis resulting from long-term inappropriate lifestyle. The present findings suggest that Bezoar Bovis may be useful for preventing atherosclerosis and for protection against restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention, for which effective reduction method is not currently available.
Mizuno
Masaki
M
Division of Kampo-pharmaceutics, Institute of Natural Medicine, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. masaki@asgen.co.jp
Chung
Hwa-Jin
HJ
Maruyama
Ikuro
I
Tani
Tadato
T
D000818:Animals; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D042882:Gallstones; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology
D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; C012293:tranilast