title: Inhibitory effect of ethyl acetate extract of Aristolochia yunnanensis on cardiac fibrosis through extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 and transforming growth factor β/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling pathways.
abstract: Aristolochia yunnanensis, known as Nan Mu Xiang in traditional Chinese medicine, has long been used to treat hypertension and chest pain. In this study, the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Nan Mu Xiang (NMX) on cardiac fibrosis was assessed in vitro by cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts with angiotensin II (AngII) stimulation, and in vivo by rats with abdominal aorta constriction (AAC). In cultured adult rat cardiac fibroblasts stimulated by AngII, NMX inhibited cardiac fibroblast proliferation, reduced the expression of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in a dose-dependent manner; and suppressed AngII-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, C- rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (C-Raf), and small mother against decapentaplegic (Smad) 2. Similar results were also observed in AAC rats with intraperitoneal injection of NMX, which not only ameliorated myocardial fibrosis, but also improved cardiac function. The therapeutic effect of NMX on myocardial fibrosis is attributed mainly to the inhibition of ERK and the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways. NMX may be a promising potential drug candidate for myocardial fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Shaorui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zhongbin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Cuixian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yunzi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Peiqing
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: yinsh2@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: shxiaoy@fudan.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D030022:Aristolochia / Q000737:chemistry*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C007650:ethyl acetate