title: Endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation of rat aorta induced by extract of Schizophyllum commune.
abstract: Schizophyllum commune (SC) is widely consumed by Chinese, especially in southern part of China. The aim of the present study was to assess the extract of SC on vascular tone and the mechanisms involved. Experiments were performed on aorta of 18-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Dried SC was extracted with 50% ethanol, 90% ethanol and deionized water, respectively. The effects of SC on the isometric tension of rat aortic rings were measured. Protein expression for the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was also determined in the primarily cultured rat aortic arterial endothelial cells (RAECs). The results showed that the water extract of SC induced a marked relaxation in aortic rings with or without endothelium. After the pretreatments of N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, indomethacin, RP-cAMP, and methylene blue, the SC-induced relaxation was significantly decreased. In addition, the contraction due to Ca(2+) influx and intracellular Ca(2+) release was also inhibited by SC. Furthermore, expression of the eNOS protein was significantly elevated in RAECs after treatment of SC. In conclusion, the water extract of SC induces an endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in rat aorta. The relaxing effect of SC involves the modulation of NO-cGMP-dependent pathways, PGI2-cAMP-depedent pathways, Ca(2+) influx though calcium channels and intracellular Ca(2+) release.
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Haiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Sujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Science & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Saimei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Ethnic Drug Screening & Pharmacology Center, Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission & Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, PR China; Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PR China. Electronic address: yangynni@163.com.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PR China. Electronic address: gphleung@hkucc.hku.hk.
authors.forename: George Pakheng
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012567:Schizophyllum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D002118:Calcium; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin
keywords: Rat aorta; Schizophyllum commune; Vasorelaxation