Effects of ethanolic extract from Radix Scrophulariae on ventricular remodeling in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of ethanolic extract of Radix Scrophulariae (EERS) on ventricular remodeling in rats.


METHODS
Rats with coronary artery ligation (CAL) were randomly assigned to 5 groups: CAL model; CAL plus 40 mg/kg captopril; CAL plus 60 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg, 240 mg/kg EERS. Sham operation rats were randomly assigned to 2 groups, sham-operated control and sham-operated plus 120 mg/kg EERS. The rats were orally administered with the corresponding drugs or drinking water for 14 weeks. The left ventricular weight index (LVWI) and heart weight index (HWI) were determined. Myocardium tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin or picric acid/Sirius red for cardiomyocyte cross-section area or collagen content measurements respectively. The concentrations of hydroxyproline (Hyp), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), angiotensin II (Ang II), aldosterone (ALD), endothelin 1 (ET-1), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and renin activity (RA) in myocardium or serum were determined. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), ET-1 and ANP.


RESULTS
EERS could significantly reduce the LVWI and HWI, decrease heart tissue concentrations of Hyp and collagen deposition, diminish cardiomyocyte cross-section area, reduce the tissue level of Ang II, ET-1, ANP and TNF-α. EERS could also down regulate the mRNA expression of ACE, ET-1 and ANP in myocardium.


CONCLUSIONS
EERS attenuates ventricular remodeling. The mechanisms may be related to restraining the excessive activation of RAAS, TNF-α and modulating some gene expressions associated with cardiac hypertrophy.
Department of Pharmacology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
Xiao Yan
XY
Huang
Chang Xun
CX
Chen
Xue Mei
XM
Zhang
Ying
Y
Liu
Xi Min
XM
Wu
Yi Ming
YM
Li
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002216:Captopril / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000737:chemistry; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D032266:Scrophularia / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*
D019332:Endothelin-1; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000431:Ethanol; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor; D003094:Collagen; D002216:Captopril; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C522363:Mmp2 protein, rat; D006909:Hydroxyproline