Ground powder of Pueraria mirijica was orally given to ovarextomized white New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.2-4.0 kg at the dose of 100 mg/kg for 90 days. Salinetreated ovariectomized rabbits were assigned as a control group. No change in plasma cholesterol, LDL triglyceride, HDL, SGOT, SGPT and lkaline phosphatase was observed between groups. Thoracic aorta was isolated for functional evaluations. PM significantly increased maximal contractile responses to NE (1.71±0.01 g versus 1.51±0.01 g, respectively), but no change in EC50 was observed between groups. Likewise, maximal relaxant response to acetylcholine (ACh) was significantly increased – 18% without any change in relaxant response to sodium nitroprussidc. Minimal and maximal responses to 17 beta-estradiol were also increased in PMtreated rabbits. L-NAME (1 microM) did not alter responses to 17 beta-estradiol. These data demonstrate that PM improves vascular reactivity to both contractile and relaxant responses to NE and Ach, respectively.
L.Chularojmontri, S.K. Wattanapitayakul and S. Srichair at
Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School, Chulalongkom University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chulalongkom University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Full Research (PDF): Click here