Anti-Proliferative Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Prunella vulgaris in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2013-01, Vol.2013 (2013), p.1-10
• Main Authors: Hwang, Sun Mi, Lee, Yun Jung, Lee, Yong Pyo, Yoon, Jung Joo, Lee, So Min, Cha, Jeong Dan, Choi, Kyung Min, Kang, Dae Gill, Lee, Ho Sub
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Cell cycle; Cell growth; Cell proliferation; Cyclic GMP; Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21; Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Cyclins; Diabetes mellitus; Endothelial cells; Glucose; Heme; Heme oxygenase (decyclizing); Inflammation; Kinases; MAP kinase; Matrix metalloproteinase; Metalloproteinase; Muscles; NF-κB protein; Nitric oxide; Oxygenase; Phosphorylation; Prunella vulgaris; Smooth muscle; Translocation
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/936463

The abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in arterial walls is an important pathogenic factor of vascular disorders such as diabetic atherosclerosis. We have reported the anti-inflammatory effect of an aqueous extract from Prunella vulgaris (APV) in vascular endothelial cell. In the present study, APV exhibited inhibitory effects on high glucose-stimulated VSMC proliferation, migration, and invasion activities, inducing G1 cell cycle arrest with downregulation of cyclins and CDKs and upregulation of the CKIs, p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1. Furthermore, APV dose dependently suppressed the high glucose-induced matrix metalloproteinase activity. High glucose-induced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, was decreased by the pretreatment of APV. NF-κB activation by high glucose was attenuated by APV, as an antioxidant. APV attenuated the high glucose-induced decrease of nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) translocation and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Intracellular cGMP level was also increased by APV treatment. These results demonstrate that APV may inhibit VSMC proliferation via downregulating ROS/NF-κB /ERK/p38 MAPK pathways. In addition, APV has a beneficial effect by the interaction of Nrf2-mediated NO/cGMP with HO-1, suggesting that Prunella vulgaris may be useful in preventing diabetic atherosclerosis.