Korean red ginseng inhibits arginase and contributes to endotheliumdependent vasorelaxation through endothelial nitric oxide synthase coupling.

Korean red ginseng water extract (KG-WE) has known beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via inducting nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelium. Endothelial arginase inhibits the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by substrate depletion, thereby reducing NO bioavailability and contributing to vascular diseases including hypertension, aging, and atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrate that KG-WE inhibits arginase activity and negatively regulates NO production and reactive oxygen species generation in endothelium.

Arginase inhibition by piceatannol-3'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside improves endothelial dysfunction via activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in ApoE-null mice fed a high-cholesterol diet.

Elevated plasma cholesterol is a hallmark of numerous cardiovascular diseases that are closely linked to endothelial dysfunction indicating decreased nitric oxide (NO) production in the endothelium. It has been previously demonstrated that piceatannol-3'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (PG) inhibits arginase activity and reciprocally regulates NO production. Here, we aimed to ascertain whether PG ameliorates vascular function in wild-type (WT) and atherogenic model mice [apolipoprotein E-null mice (ApoE-/-)] and to investigate the possible underlying mechanism.

Arginase Inhibition by Ethylacetate Extract of Caesalpinia sappan Lignum Contributes to Activation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Caesalpinia sappan (C. sappan) is a medicinal plant used for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis. During a screening procedure on medicinal plants, the ethylacetate extract of the lignum of C.

Native low-density lipoprotein-induced superoxide anion contributes to proliferation of human aortic smooth muscle cells.

Background: Native low-density lipoprotein (nLDL) was one of the modifiable risk factors contributed directly to cardiovascular diseases development. We investigated that nLDL stimulation induced NADPH oxidase activation and superoxide production that was an important factor on human aortic smooth muscle cells (hAoSMC) proliferation.

Methods: Superoxide generation was recorded with fluorescent-staining of dihydroethidine or by measuring lucigenin-induced chemiluminescence for 5 minutes.