Herbal medicine Oryeongsan (Wulingsan): Cardio-renal effects via modulation of renin-angiotensin system and atrial natriuretic peptide system.

Background: Oryeongsan (Wulingsan, Goreisan) has long been used for the treatment of impaired body fluid metabolism. However, the action mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Recently, effects of Oryeongsan on the body fluid and Na metabolism and the action mechanisms have been shown more clearly.

Herbal medicine (Oryeongsan) for fluid and sodium balance in renal cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Herbal medicine Oryeongsan (ORS), also known as Wulingsan in Chinesehas been used for the treatment of impaired body fluid balance. However, the mechanisms involved are not clearly defined. The purpose of the present study was to identify the actions of ORS on the renal excretory function and blood pressure (BP) and to define the mechanisms involved in association with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and natriuretic peptide system (NPS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), an animal model of human essential hypertension.

Physcion prevents high-fat diet-induced endothelial dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity leads endothelial dysfunction and contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Palmitic acid (PA), a free fatty acid, is the main component of dietary saturated fat. Physcion, a chemical ingredient from Rhubarb, has been shown anti-hypertensive, anti-bacteria, and anti-tumor properties.

Emodin protects against homocysteine-induced cardiac dysfunction by inhibiting oxidative stress via MAPK and Akt/eNOS/NO signaling pathways.

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) causes severe cardiac dysfunction, which is closely associated with oxidative stress. Emodin, a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative, has been shown to exert antioxidant and anti-apoptosis activities. However, whether emodin could protect against Hcy-induced cardiac dysfunction remains unknown.

Oryeongsan (Wulingsan) ameliorates impaired ANP secretion of atria from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Oryeongsan (ORS), a herbal medicine formula, has long been used for the treatment of impaired body water balance in Asian countries. Recently, it was shown that ORS administration modulates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Purpose of the present study was to determine characteristics of atrial ANP secretion and effects of ORS on the secretion in the atria from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Physcion, a tetra-substituted 9,10-anthraquinone, prevents homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction by activating Ca- and Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathways.

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) induced vascular endothelial dysfunction is known to be closely associated with oxidative stress and impaired NO system. 1,8-Dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylanthracene-9,10-dione (physcion) has been known to has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to define the protective effect of physcion on Hcy-induced endothelial dysfunction and its mechanisms involved.

Chamber-specific regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in cardiac hypertrophy: atrial wall dynamics in the ANP secretion.

The heart is involved in the regulation of blood pressure and body fluid homeostasis. As a blood volume sensor and effector for the regulation of the volume and pressure homeostasis, the atria are the central regulator to secrete humoral messenger cardiac natriuretic hormones into the circulation. The primary action of the atria in response to the volume change in the body is to control the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a member of the family of cardiac natriuretic hormones.

Protective effects of oxymatrine on homocysteine-induced endothelial injury: Involvement of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathways.

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), induces the injury of vascular endothelial cells via oxidative stress. Oxymatrine (OMT), one of the main components of Sophora flavescens, has displayed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic activity.

Atrial secretion of ANP is suppressed in renovascular hypertension: shifting of ANP secretion from atria to the left ventricle.

In the present study, the change in secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the atria was defined in hypertension accompanied by ventricular hypertrophy and increased synthesis of ANP. To identify the change of the secretion and mechanisms involved, experiments were performed in isolated perfused beating atria from sham-operated normotensive and renovascular hypertensive rats. Expression of ANP, natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR)-C, components of the renin-angiotensin system, and muscarinic signaling pathway was measured in cardiac tissues.

Beneficial Effect of Berberis amurensis Rupr. on Penile Erection.

Objective: To investigate whether the methanol extract of Berberis amurensis Rupr. (BAR) augments penile erection using in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Methods: The ex vivo study used corpus cavernosum strips prepared from adult male New Zealand White rabbits.

Oleanolic acid modulates the renin-angiotensin system and cardiac natriuretic hormone concomitantly with volume and pressure balance in rats.

Oleanolic acid is known to possess beneficial effects on the regulation of the cardiovascular homeostasis. However, the exact nature of the role of oleanolic acid on the regulation of body fluid balance and blood pressure homeostasis and its mechanisms involved are not well defined. Experiments were performed to identify the effects of oleanolic acid on the renin-angiotensin system and cardiac natriuretic hormone (ANP) system, and also renal function and blood pressure in normotensive and renovascular hypertensive rats.

Effects of endothelin family on ANP secretion.

The endothelins (ET) peptide family consists of ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, and sarafotoxin (s6C, a snake venom) and their actions appears to be different among isoforms. The aim of this study was to compare the secretagogue effect of ET-1 on atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion with ET-3 and evaluate its physiological meaning. Isolated nonbeating atria from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to evaluate stretch-activated ANP secretion in response to ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, and s6C.

Emodin accentuates atrial natriuretic peptide secretion in cardiac atria.

Emodin, an active anthraquinone constituent isolated from the rhubarb, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine which is widely used in clinical treatment, has cardiovascular protective properties. However, it remains unclear whether the cardiovascular protective actions of emodin are related to an activation of cardiac natriuretic hormone secretion. The purpose of the present study was to explore the effect of emodin on the secretion of ANP, a member of the family of cardiac natriuretic hormones, and its mechanisms involved.

Accentuation of ursolic acid on muscarinic receptor-induced ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria.

Aims: Ursolic acid has recently been reported to increase both atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion and mechanical dynamics in rabbit atria.

Main Methods: The present study was designed to clarify the regulatory effects of ursolic acid on the β-adrenergic or muscarinic receptor-mediated changes in ANP secretory and contractile function allowing measurement of atrial dynamics such as pulse pressure, stroke volume, and cAMP efflux in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria.

Key Findings: Pretreatment with ursolic acid significantly attenuated the isoproterenol (β-adrenergic agonist)-induced decrease in ANP secretion and increases in cAMP levels and atrial dynamics.

Endogenous ACh tonically stimulates ANP secretion in rat atria.

Exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) is known to stimulate atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion concomitantly with a decrease in atrial pulse pressure. However, the role of intrinsic ACh in the regulation of ANP secretion remains unknown. Recently, it was shown that nonneuronal and neuronal ACh is present in the cardiac atria.

Ethanol extract of Lycopus lucidus elicits positive inotropic effect via activation of Ca2+ entry and Ca2+ release in beating rabbit atria.

Lycopus lucidus Turcz has been widely used as a traditional Oriental medicine (TOM) in Korea and China and prescribed for the enhancement of heart function. However, the precise effects have yet to be defined. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to address whether the ethanol extract of Lycopus lucidus Turcz (ELT) has a positive inotropic effect.

Vasorelaxant action of an ethylacetate fraction of Euphorbia humifusa involves NO-cGMP pathway and potassium channels.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Euphorbia humifusa Willd. (EH) is an important traditional Chinese medicine that has commonly been used for treating bacillary dysentery and enteritis in many Asian countries for thousands of years. EH has a wide variety of pharmacological actions such as antioxidant, hypotensive, and hypolipidemic effects.

Oleanolic acid increases plasma ANP levels via an accentuation of cardiac ANP synthesis and secretion in rats.

Oleanolic acid is known to have beneficial effects on the regulation of cardiovascular homeostasis. The present study was designed to identify the effects of oleanolic acid on plasma levels and atrial synthesis and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Experiments were performed in rats and isolated perfused beating rat atria.

Vasodilatory effects of ethanol extract of Radix Paeoniae Rubra and its mechanism of action in the rat aorta.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR) is an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) commonly used in clinic for a long history in China. RPR is the radix of either Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch.

Oryeongsan (Wulingsan), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, induces natriuresis and diuresis along with an inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Oryeongsan (ORS, Wulingsan), a formula composed of five herbal medicines, has long been used for the treatment of impairments of the regulation of body fluid homeostasis in China, Japan and Korea.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of the present study was to test the effects of ORS on the renal function and the mechanisms involved in rats.

Materials And Methods: Experiments were performed in rats caged individually.

Renal actions of dendroaspis natriuretic peptide in rabbits.

Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) is one of four members of the natriuretic peptide family sharing functional and structural properties. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the physiological role of DNP on renal functions and its cellular mechanism in the rabbit kidney. DNP (5 μg/kg/min) infused intravenously increased urine volume and urinary excretion of electrolytes.

The mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by ethanol extract of Sophora flavescens in rat aorta.

Aim Of The Study: Sophora flavescens (SF) is a known medicinal herb for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms associated with arrhythmia in China. However, the pharmacological action mechanisms involved have not been well studied. The aim of the present study was to define effects of roots of SF on the vascular tension and responsible mechanisms in rat thoracic aorta.

Three phases of corporal tracing elicited by electrical field stimulation on rabbit corpus cavernosum smooth muscle in penile perfusion model.

Introduction: Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to mediate electrical field stimulation (EFS)-caused smooth muscle relaxation. It is known that the neural control of penile erection involves adrenergic, cholinergic, and non-adrenergic-non-cholinergic (NANC) neuro-effector systems; however, the effects of EFS on adrenergic and cholinergic nerves are not clear.

Aims: To elucidate EFS-induced signal transductions involved in adrenergic, cholinergic, and NANC neuro-effector systems by using an in vitro penile perfusion model.

Presence of dendroaspis natriuretic peptide and its binding to NPR-A receptor in rabbit kidney.

Natriuretic peptides help to maintain sodium and fluid volume homeostasis in a healthy cardio-renal environment. Since the identification of Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) as a new member of the natriuretic peptide family, DNP has been considered as an important regulator of natriuresis and dieresis. The present study was undertaken to investigate the presence of immunoreactive Dendroaspis natriuretic peptide (DNP) and its specific receptor in rabbit.