• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.79-92
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• 2004

Objectives : This experiments were performed to determine the effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract on hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rat and norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in rabbit. Methods : In order to define the effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation, OYakSoonGi-San extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by norepinephrine after treatment of indomethacin, $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, methylene blue or tetraethylammonium chloride. Results : Blood pressure was significantly decreased five days after administration of OYakSoonGi-San extract. The relaxation effect of OYakSoonGi-San extract was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. Also OYakSoonGi-San extract-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited in arterial strips which were contracted by high $K^+$. OYakSoonGi-San extract-indeced relaxation was significantly inhibited by the pre-treatment of $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pre-treated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When additive application of $Ca^{2+}$ in arterial strips which were pre-contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$ was attenuated by pre-treatment of OYakSoonGi-San extract. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that OYakSoonGi-San could be applied effectively to hypertension and may inhibit agonist-induced contraction through an decrease influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ by the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.49-55
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to define the effect of ChungSangSaWhaTang on the norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction and the mechanism of ChungSangSaWhaTang-induced relaxation. In order to investigate the effect of ChungSangSaWhaTang on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of ChungSangSaWhaTang-induced relaxation, ChungSangSaWhaTang extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by norepinephrine after treatment of indomethacin, $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine, or tetraethylammonium chloride. ChungSangSaWhaTang relax arterial strip with endothelium contracted by norepinephrine, but in the strips without endothelium, ChungSangSaWhaTang-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by ChungSangSaWhaTang was decreased by the pretreatment of $N_{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine, but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. We suggest that ChungSangSaWhaTang may inhibit agonist-induced contraction through the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.141-154
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• 2003

Objectives : This study was undertaken to define the effect of Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium on phenylephrine-induced arterial contraction and the mechanism of Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Foliuminduced relaxation. Methods : In order to investigate the effect of Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium extract was infused into contracted arterial strips induced by phenylephrine. To analyze the mechanism of Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium-induced relaxation, Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium extract was infused into contracted arterial strips induced by phenylephrine after treatment with indomethacin, $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$, methylene blue or tetraethylammonium chloride, and $Ca^{2+}$ was infused into contracted arterial strips induced by phenylephrine after treatment of Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution. Results : Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium showed relaxation effect on arterial strip with endothelium contracted by phenylephrine, but in the strips without endothelium, Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium was decreased by pretreatment with $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ or methylene blue but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When $Ca^{2+}$ was applied to the strips which were contracted by phenylephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. However, pretreatment with Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. Conclusions : Diospyros kaki L. Radix or Diospyros kaki L. Folium may suppress influx of extra- cellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.437-445
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• 2013

This study was investigated to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect of Rubus coreanus(RC) extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery and its mechanism. To study the effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, arterial strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for experiment using organ bath. The pre-contracted arterial strips with norepinephrine(NE) or potassium chloride(KCl) was treated with various concentrations of an extract of RC(0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$). To determine the mechanisms of RC-induced vasorelaxant, RC extract was infused into contracted arterial rings which had been pretreated by indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB). And calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM was infused into precontracted arterial ring induced by NE or KCl after treatment of RC extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. Cytotoxic activity of RC extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) prodution was measured by Griess reagent. RC extract revealed significant relaxation on NE-induced arterial contraction, but didn't relax on KCl-induced arterial contraction. RC extract also had an effective relaxation to the intact endothelium arterial ring, but not the damaged endothelium arterial ring. Treatment of IM, TEA, L-NNA, MB reduced the relaxation of RC extract. Pretreatment of RC extract inhibited the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by NE, but it didn't work the contraction by influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in contracted arterial ring induced by KCl in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution. RC extract increased nitric oxide production on HUVEC. This study indicated that the relaxation effect of RC extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery is related with NO-cGMP pathway, EDHF, prostacyclin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.809-817
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism of vasodilation of Lespedezea cuneata(LC) in rabbit common carotid artery and cavernosal smooth muscle. LC relaxed arterial strips precontracted with norepinephrine and cavernosal strips precontracted with phenylephrine. The arterial relaxation effects of LC was endothelium-dependent. $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), NOS inhibitor, methylene blue(MB), cGMP inhibitor, indomethacin(IM), cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor and tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), KCa-channel blocker attenuate the relaxation responses of LC in arterial strips. In $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution, pretreatment of LC extract significantly reduced the contraction induced by addition $Ca^{2+}$. L-NNA reduced LC extract-induced relaxation in cavernosal strips, but IM, TEA and MB didn't affect LC extract-induced relaxation. When LC extract was applicated on human umbilical vein endothelial cell, the nitric oxide concentration was increased. We conclude that in rabbit common carotid artery, LC may suppress influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the release of endothelium derived relaxing factor including nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor. And LC exerts a relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum through activating the NO.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1573-1579
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to define the effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract on the hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rat and norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in rabbit. Systolic blood pressure and blood velocity were significantly attenuated by administration of DaeSiHo-Tang extract. but blood flow and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system unaffected by DaeSiHo-Tang extract. The relaxation effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract was dependent on the presence of endothelium, showing that DaeSiHo-Tang extract-induced relaxation was not observed in the strips without endothelium. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by DaeSiHo-Tang extract was decreased by the pretreatment of $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pretreated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When $Ca^{2+}$ was applied, the strips which were contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But pre-treatment of DaeSiHo-Tang extract inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. These results indicate that antihypertensive effect of DaeSiHo-Tang extract is due to descend arterial resistance by the arterial relaxation through the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1622-1628
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to define the effect of SoPung-Tang extract on hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rat and norepinephrine- induced arterial contraction in rabbit. In order to investigate the effect of SoPung-Tang extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of SoPung-Tang extract-induced relaxation, SoPung-Tang extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by norepinephrine after treatment of indomethacin, Nu-nitro-L-arginine, methylene blue or tetraethylammonium chloride. Blood pressure was significantly decreased five days after administration of SoPung-Tang extract. SoPung-Tang extract relax arterial strip with endothelium contracted by norepinephrine, but in the strips without endothelium, SoPung-Tang extract- induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. SoPung-Tang relax arterial strip contracted by norepinephrine, but in the strips contracted by high $K^+$, SoPung-Tang extract-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by SoPung-Tang extract was decreased by the pre-treatment of $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pre-treated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When $Ca^{2+}$ was applied, the strips which were contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But pre-treatment of SoPung-Tang extract inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. We suggest that SoPung-Tang could be applied effectively for hypertension and may suppress influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the formation of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelial cells.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2005

Objectives : This experiments were performed to determine the effect of Linderae Radix extract on norepinephrine-induced arterial contraction in rabbit. Methods : In order to investigate the effect of Linderae Radix extract on contracted rabbit carotid arterial strips, transverse strips with intact or damaged endothelium were used for the experiment using organ bath. To analyze the mechanism of Linderae Radix extract-induced relaxation, Linderae Radix extract infused into contracted arterial strips induced by norepinephrine after treatment of indomethacin, tetraethylammonium chloride, $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ or methylene blue. Results : Linderae Radix extract relax arterial strip with endothelium contracted by norepinephrine, but in the strips without endothelium, Linderae Radix extract-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. Linderae Radix extract-induced relaxation was decreased by the pre-treatment of $N{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ or methylene blue, but it was not observed in the strips pre-treated with indomethacin or tetraethylammonium chloride. When $Ca^{2+}$ was applied, the strips which were contracted by norepinephrine in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, arterial contraction was increased. But pre-treatment of Linderae Radix extract inhibited contractile response to norepinephrine and $Ca^{2+}$. Conclusions : We suggest that Linderae Radix may suppress influx of extra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$ through the formation of nitric oxide, and release of intra-cellular $Ca^{2+}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.305-314
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• 2005

Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular complications, including an impairment of vascular function and alterations in the reactivity of blood vessels to vasoactive substances in various vasculature. In the present study, the authors have observed endothelin-B ($ET_B$) receptor agonist-induced relaxation in precontracted mesenteric arterial segments from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, which was not shown from control rats or in other arterial segments from diabetic rats. Accordingly, the goal of this study was to investigate in what way STZ-induced diabetes altered reactivity of the mesenteric arterial bed and to examine the causal relaxation, if any, between this $ET_B$ receptor-mediated relaxation and endothelial paracrine function, especially nitric oxide (NO) production. The relaxation induced by $ET_B$ agonists was not observed in mesenteric arteries without endothelium. The relaxation to $ET_B$ agonists was completely abolished by pretreatment with BQ788, but not by BQ610. $N_{\omega}-nitro-L-arginine$ methyl ester and soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue or LY83583 significantly attenuated the relaxant responses to $ET_B$ agonists, respectively. When the expression of eNOS and iNOS was evaluated on agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide, the expression of eNOS mRNA in diabetic rats was significantly decreased, but the expression of iNOS was increased compared with control rats. Furthermore, the iNOS-like immunostaining was densely detected in the endothelium and slightly in the arterial smooth muscle of diabetic rats, but not in control rats. These observations suggest that $ET_B$ receptor may not play a role in maintaining mesenteric vascular tone in normal situation. However, the alterations in $ET_B$ receptor sensitivity were found in diabetic rats and lead to the $ET_B$ agonist-induced vasorelaxation, which is closely related to NO production. In the state of increased vascular resistance of diabetic mesenteric vascular bed, enhanced NO production by activation of iNOS could lead to compensatory vasorelaxation to modulate adequate perfusion pressure to splanchnic area.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2002

This study investigated the relaxation effects of Crataegi Fructus(CF, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) on the contraction evoked by phenylephrine in rabbit carotid artery, and also analyzes antioxidative status in vitro. CF revealed siginificant relaxation on phenylephrine-induced arterial contraction. It's relaxant effect statistically significant in both in the presence of endothelium and absence of endothelium, but statistically exerted more strong relaxation in the presence of endothelium. CF increased in vitro nitric oxide(NO) production in dose-dependent manner. Also, they reduced malondiaidehyde(MDA) concentrations, phosphatidyl choline-liposome(PCOOH) contents, linoleic acid-induced lipid peroxidation and exerted 1,1-diphenyl-2- picryl-hydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging effect, in vitro. These results indicate that Crataegi Fructus would be effective in relaxing arterial contraction and it's antioxidative effects may be involved in endothelium-dependent relaxation of artery via vascular protective properites.