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EXTRACTS OF GINKGO BILOBA AND GINSENOSIDES EXERT CEREBRAL VASORELAXATION VIA A NITRIC OXIDE PATHWAY
Author(s) -
Chen X,
Salwinski S,
Lee TJF
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1997.tb02727.x
Subject(s) - ginkgo biloba , nitric oxide , basilar artery , chemistry , pharmacology , ginkgoales , cerebral arteries , vasodilation , anesthesia , in vitro , biochemistry , medicine , pharmacognosy , biological activity , organic chemistry
SUMMARY 1. Extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) and ginsenosides (GS) have been reported to be effective at increasing vascular relaxation. In the present study, the actions of EGb and GS on the vascular functions of porcine basilar arteries were investigated in vitro using tissue bath techniques. 2. Both EGb and GS relaxed the basilar artery in a concentration‐dependent and partly endothelium‐dependent manner. However, EGb appeared to be more potent than GS. Relaxation induced by transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) was significantly enhanced by EGb (7.5, 15 and 30 μg/mL) and GS (20, 40 and 80 μg/mL| in both endothelium‐intact and ‐denuded basilar arteries. Enhanced TNS‐induced relaxations were abolished by 0.3 mmol/L N‐h ‐arginine. 3. The present study demonstrates that nitric oxide plays a primary role in TNS‐induced relaxation as well as in EGb‐ and GS‐enhanced relaxation within the cerebral vasculature. In addition, our data support the potential of these compounds as therapeutic strategies in cerebral ischaemia and other related vascular dysfunctions.