title: Effects of black cohosh on the plasminogen activator system in vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The rhizome of the Cimicifuga racemosa plant (commonly known as black cohosh) has been used for menopausal complaints. Studies regarding the cardiovascular effects of black cohosh are lacking. We investigated the effect of black cohosh on the plasminogen activator system in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  VSMCs were isolated from rat aortae. Expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The activities of PAI-1 and t-PA in the conditioned media were assessed by fibrin overlay zymography. A 40% 2-propanol extract of black cohosh was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Black cohosh extract (BcEx) stimulated the protein expression of PAI-1, but it did not affect that of t-PA. Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, inhibited the BcEx-induced increase in PAI-1 expression, while ICI 182,780, an estrogen receptor antagonist, had no effect. Fibrin overlay zymography revealed that BcEx increased the activity of PAI-1 in the conditioned media, while concurrently decreasing that of free t-PA by inducing a binding to PAI-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BcEx induces PAI-1 protein expression in the VSMCs likely via an oxidant mechanism. It also stimulates the enzyme activity of PAI-1 and reduces that of free t-PA. These findings suggest that black cohosh might exert a negative influence on fibrinolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheong-Rae
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Young-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: DooSeok
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: YoungJoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mee-Ra
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rhyu
authors.forename: Byung-Koo
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta; D002417:Cattle; D031885:Cimicifuga; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000378:metabolism; D005342:Fibrinolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008593:Menopause; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010958:Plasminogen / Q000378:metabolism; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D014810:Vitamin E; D005337:Fibrin; D010958:Plasminogen; D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator; D005341:Fibrinolysin
keywords: Black cohosh; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; Vascular smooth muscle