• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.389-396
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• 2009

The ethanol extract of Persicaria perfoliata (EPP) induced relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta in a dose-dependent manner, which was abolished by removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or 1H-[1,2,4}-oxadiazole-[4,3-${\alpha}$)-quinixalin-1-one (ODQ) inhibited the relaxation induced by EPP. However, EPP-induced relaxation was not blocked by pretreatment with indomethacine, glibenclamide, tetraethylammonium (TEA), atropine, or propranolol. Incubation of endothelium-intact thoracic aortic ring with EPP increased the production of cGMP, which was also blocked by pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ. These results suggest that EPP dilates vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent NO/cGMP signaling.