Cornuside exhibits vasodilatory and anti‐inflammatory effects via a nitric oxide‐cGMP pathway

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2006-03, Vol.20 (4), p.A668-A668
• Main Authors: Kang, Dae Gill, Moon, Mi Kyoung, Cao, Li Hua, Lee, Jun Kyoung, Choi, Deok Ho, Lee, Yun Mi, Yang, Sun Nyo, Lee, Ho Sub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.A668-b

Vasorelaxant and anti‐inflammatory effects of a cornuside isolated from the fruits of Cornus officinalis and possible mechanisms responsible for this effect were investigated. Cornuside induced a concentration‐dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine‐precontracted rat aorta. This effect disappeared with the removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the aortic tissues with either NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) or 1H‐[1,2,4]‐oxadiazole‐[4,3‐α]‐quinoxalin‐1‐one (ODQ) inhibited the relaxation induced by cornuside. Incubation of carotid arteries isolated from rats with cornuside increased the production of cGMP in a dose‐dependent manner, but this effect was blocked by pretreatment with L‐NAME and ODQ, respectively. Cornuside suppressed the expression levels of adhesion molecules including intracellular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) induced by TNF‐α in HUVECs. TNF‐α‐induced monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) expression was also attenuated by treatment of cornuside. Taken together, the present study suggests that cornuside dilates vascular smooth muscle and suppresses the vascular inflammatory process via endothelium‐dependent nitric oxide (NO)/cGMP signaling.