The Effect of Rheum palmatum L. and Rheum undulatum L. on Rat Thoracic Aorta and Abdominal Aorta

Objectives: To examine the relaxational response to the water extract of Rheum palmatum L. and Rheum undulatum L. on rat thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta. Methods: Segments of thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta obtained from rats immediately after delivery were mounted in organ baths superfused on a polygraph. Results : We found that the thoracic aorta segments responded to the water extract of genus Rheum with a dose-dependent vasorelaxation. At $10^{-4}$ M 5-HT, the maximal contraction force was 93.5% of the maximum KCI-response. The 5-HT induced contractions at $10^{-4}$ M were inhibited by 86.4% and 62.1 % after addition of the high concentrations of R. palmatum root (RPR) and leaf (RPL) and R. undulatum root (RUR) and leaf (RUL). At 10 mg/ml RPR and RUR, the relaxational response at thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta with and without endothelium were 86.4%, 83.2%, 85.8%, and 62.1% of the maximum 5-HT induced contraction. Conclusion: Our result showed that RPL and RUL induced dose-dependent vasorelaxation on rat thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta, and that RPL and RUL roots have more potent effects than the leaves.