Prunus yedoensis Bark Downregulates the Expression of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Human Endothelial Cell Lines and Relaxes Blood Vessels in Rat Aortic Rings

• Published in: Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 17; no. 7; p. 926
• Main Authors: Choi, Ye Eun, Yang, Jung Mo, Jeong, Chae Won, Shin, Sujin, Park, Junkyu, Lee, Kyungjin, Cho, Ju Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.07.2024
• Subjects: Antihypertensives; Blood pressure; Blood vessels; cardiovascular disease; Cell adhesion & migration; Endothelium; Enzymes; human endothelial cells; Hypertension; Nitric oxide; Prunus yedoensis; Smooth muscle; vasorelaxation; cardiovascular disease; Prunus yedoensis; vasorelaxation; human endothelial cells; hypertension
• ISSN: 1424-8247; 1424-8247
• DOI: 10.3390/ph17070926

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, is increasing worldwide, owing to population aging and irregular lifestyle habits. Previous studies have reported the vasorelaxant effects of bark methanol extract. However, various solvent extracts of bark and their vascular relaxation mechanisms have not been sufficiently studied. We prepared extracts of bark using various solvents (water, 30% ethanol, and 70% ethanol). bark 30% ethanol extract (PYB-30E) decreased the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and E-selectin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) activated with 200 ng/mL TNF-α. Additionally, PYB-30E showed vasodilatory effects on isolated rat aortic rings. This was confirmed to be the result of the activation of the NO/cGMP pathway, regulation of non-selective calcium-activated K channels, and calcium channel blockade. Additionally, PYB-30E significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Taken together, our results indicated that PYB-30E is a candidate functional material with preventive and therapeutic effects against hypertension.