title: The effect of Hypericum perforatum on isolated rat aorta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Different Hypericum species such as Hypericum perforatum (HP) L. and Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra are well known and widely used traditional medicine in Turkey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the effect of standardized HP extract on endothelium and vascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  After suspending the aortas with endothelium in organ baths containing Krebs solution, contractile and relaxant responses were assessed in the absence and presence of HP (0.05 mg/ml).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although there were significant reductions in the contractile responses to phenylephrine (1113.73 ± 164.11; 477.40 ± 39.94; p < 0.05) and potassium chloride (745.58 ± 66.73; 112.58 ± 26.58; p < 0.05), no differences in the relaxant responses to acetylcholine (94.61 ± 2.65; 87.79 ± 9.40) and sodium nitroprusside (108.82 ± 5.06; 106.43 ± 7.45) were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that even the high dose of HP intervention does not bring any harmful effect on endothelium and smooth muscle function; meanwhile it might be beneficial on some of diseases accompanied with increased vascular contraction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Adnan Menderes University, School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tugrul
authors.forename: Buket
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Turhan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dost
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birincioglu
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D020902:Hypericum; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D010656:Phenylephrine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000109:Acetylcholine