(College of Oriental Medicine. Kyung Hee University)
We have examined the relaxational response to the water extract of Rheum palmatum L.(ERP) and water extrc alcohol processed Rheum palmatum L.(ARP) in isolated thoracic aorta from sprague dawley (SD) rat. Rat thoracic aort investigated in vessel segments suspended for isometric tension recording by polygraph. Responses to ERP and ARP investigated in vessels precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT). We found that the thoracic aorta segments respo to ERP and ARP with a dose-dependent vasorelaxation. We found that ; The thoracic aorta segments responded to I and ARP with a dose-dependent vasodilation. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10/sup -4/M were inhibited by 71.7% and a: after addition of the 0.01 g/mL water extract of ERP and ARP. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10/sup -4/M were inhibite 100% after 10/sup -3/M emodin. The concentration of emodin was 0.027% and 0.098% in ERP and ARP. In condusion, ERP ARP induced relaxation in the isolated rat thoracic aorta were composed of dose-dependent relaxation. and it has pi vasodilation.