title: Anti-Proliferative Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Prunella vulgaris in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.
abstract: The abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in arterial walls is an important pathogenic factor of vascular disorders such as diabetic atherosclerosis. We have reported the anti-inflammatory effect of an aqueous extract from Prunella vulgaris (APV) in vascular endothelial cell. In the present study, APV exhibited inhibitory effects on high glucose-stimulated VSMC proliferation, migration, and invasion activities, inducing G1 cell cycle arrest with downregulation of cyclins and CDKs and upregulation of the CKIs, p21(waf1/cip1) and p27(kip1). Furthermore, APV dose dependently suppressed the high glucose-induced matrix metalloproteinase activity. High glucose-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, was decreased by the pretreatment of APV. NF- κ B activation by high glucose was attenuated by APV, as an antioxidant. APV attenuated the high glucose-induced decrease of nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) translocation and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Intracellular cGMP level was also increased by APV treatment. These results demonstrate that APV may inhibit VSMC proliferation via downregulating ROS/NF- κ B /ERK/p38 MAPK pathways. In addition, APV has a beneficial effect by the interaction of Nrf2-mediated NO/cGMP with HO-1, suggesting that Prunella vulgaris may be useful in preventing diabetic atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Oriental Medicine and Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Republic of Korea ; Center for Bioanalysis, Division of Metrology for Quality of Life, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Doryong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-340, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Joo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: So Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong Dan
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Dae Gill
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ho Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee