title: Effect of Scurrula atropurpurea on nitric oxide, endothelial damage, and endothelial progenitor cells of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To know whether Scurrula atropurpurea is able to modulate total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels, decrease endothelial damage, and increase endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in hypertensive rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rats were divided in 5 groups: control (normotensive) group, Desoxy cortico sterone (DOCA)-salt hypertensive group, and three DOCA-salt hypertensive groups. All 5 groups received methanolic extract of S. atropurpurea (MESA) at a dosage of 50; 100; and 200 mg/KgBW. Serum nitric oxide (NO) was assayed by colorimetric. Circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and EPCs were assayed using flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The administration of MESA100 and MESA200 elevated the total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels but cannot reach the level in control group. MESA100 and MESA200 also elevated the EPCs number compared with hypertensive group. The administration of MESA significantly (P< 0.05) decreased the CECs number compared to hypertensive groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methanolic extract of S. atropurpurea is able to modulate total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels and diminish endothelial damage via increasing EPCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, Islamic University of Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Nour
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Athiroh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Nur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Permatasari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Djanggan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sargowo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: M Aris
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Widodo
keywords: Endothelial damage; Endothelial prgenitor cells; Hypertensive; Nitric oxide