Effect of magnesium tanshinoate B on the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells.
Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator which plays an important role in regulating vascular tones. Danshen, a Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium tanshinoate B ( MTB), a compound purified from Danshen, on the production of NO in human endothelial cell line (ECV304). After cells were incubated with MTB (1-10 microM) for 1 or 4 h, amounts of NO metabolites released by cells were quantified and cellular NOS activities were determined following the conversion of [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline. The NOS protein expression was determined by Western immunoblotting analysis. MTB (1-10 microM) stimulated the release of NO and its metabolites from endothelial cells. Following MTB treatment, the cellular NOS activities were significantly enhanced with a concomitant increase in the levels of constitutive NOS ( cNOS) protein mass (110-178%). Selective activation of cNOS by MTB may be employed therapeutically in modulating NO production in endothelial cells.[1]References
- Effect of magnesium tanshinoate B on the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells. O, K., Cheung, F., Sung, F.L., Zhu, D.Y., Siow, Y.L. Mol. Cell. Biochem. (2000) [Pubmed]
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