title: An extract from brown rice inhibits signal transduction of angiotensin II in vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health benefits of brown rice over white rice have been described previously. However, whether the outer bran of rice contains an ingredient useful to prevent cardiovascular diseases remains unknown. The subaleurone layer of rice, which is usually lost by milling brown rice for whitening, is rich in varied nutrients, suggesting that some ingredient contained within this layer may be beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess potential benefits of the subaleurone layer toward pathological vascular remodeling, we examined the effects of the layer extracts from Japanese rice (Oryza sativa var. japonica) on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced signal transduction and hypertrophy in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pretreatment of the ethyl acetate extract (100 µg/ml), but not other extracts, inhibited Ang II (100 nmol/l)-induced immediate signal transduction events. Also, the extract diminished c-Fos expression and hypertrophic protein accumulation induced by Ang II in the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that an ingredient in the ethyl acetate extract from the subaleurone layer of rice has a protective effect toward cardiovascular diseases by interfering with signal transduction induced by Ang II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takaguri
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akazawa
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006984:Hypertrophy; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012275:Oryza; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D000804:Angiotensin II; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D002118:Calcium