title: Puerarin protects against endothelial dysfunction and end-organ damage in Ang II-induced hypertension.
abstract: Puerarin, a major isoflavonoid compound from Chinese herb Kudzu roots, has been widely used for the treatment of hypertensive and cardiovascular diseases in China. Here, we investigated puerarin's beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertensive rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with Ang II for 5 days or with puerarin for 10 days followed by Ang II and puerarin for 5 days. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) to acetylcholine was determined using an organ chamber bath. Ang II increased the systolic blood pressure (SBP: 178 ± 5 mmHg vs. 112 ± 3 mmHg in control, p < 0.05), aortic (30%, p < 0.05), and left ventricular (LV) weight (23%); puerarin reduced SBP (160 ± 2 mmHg, p < 0.05), aortic, and left ventricular weight in Ang II-infused rats. Puerarin also reduced aortic medial thickness and myocardial cell surface area in Ang II-infused rats. Compared with control rats, Ang II infused rats exhibited an impaired EDR with reduction in the protein expression of phosphor-eNOS at Ser 1177 and an increase in the expression of gp91phox (85%), p22phox (113%), transforming growth factor β1 (145%) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (82%). Puerarin improved EDR and reversed the changes in Ang II-induced protein expression of above molecules. Our results demonstrate that in Ang II-induced hypertensive rats, puerarin protects against endothelial dysfunction and end organ damage with a mild reduction in SBP, and that the cardiovascular beneficial effects of puerarin may be in part attributed to its anti-oxidant and upregulation of phosphor-eNOS.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Xiaojie
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Yuhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: b Vagelos Scholars Program of the Molecular Life Sciences , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Aimei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: c Department of Pharmacology , Liaoning Medical University; Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Hongxin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physiology , Liaoning Medical University , Jinzhou , Liaoning , China.
authors.forename: Ming-Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002681:China; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000473:pathology; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; C500593:Cybb protein, rat; D000074662:NADPH Oxidase 2; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C515768:Cyba protein, rat; D000109:Acetylcholine; C033607:puerarin
keywords: Angiotensin II; endothelial function; herbal medicine; hypertension; oxidative stress