Endothelium-dependent vasodilatory effect of Smilax china Linn. water extract via PI3K/Akt signaling

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacological effect of Smilax china Linn. water extract (SCLWE) on vascular relaxation and its underlying biochemical mechanisms.

Methodology: Isolated rat aortic rings were pre-constricted with phenylephrine (PE). This was followed by the cumulative addition of SCLWE. The effect of endothelial nitric oxide and PI3K/Akt on the SCLWE-induced vasodilation was investigated by the pretreatment of endothelium-intact aortic strips with or without N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or wortmanin before constriction with PE.

Results: Treatment of PE (1 μM)-pre-contracted aortic strips with SCLWE induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, which was attenuated by L-NAME and wortmanin. Further studies using HUVECs indicated that nitrite production, eNOS and PI3K/PKB (Akt) phosphorylations were increased after exposure to SCLWE but was attenuated by pretreatment with wortmanin.

Conclusion: These results suggest that SCLWE induces vasodilation by augmenting NO production in endothelial cells via PI3K/Akt-dependent eNOS phosphorylation.

Keywords:

• Vasodilation
• phosphorylation
• endothelium
• aorta
• L-NAME

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dongguk University Research Fund of 2015.