Nitric oxide-mediated vasorelaxation by Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii in isolated rat thoracic aorta

The vasorelaxant effect of Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and its possible mechanism of action on the vasomotor tone of the rat thoracic aortic rings were examined in an organ bath. Chloroform extracts of Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii (Ch1LW) elicited a dose-dependent, transient, relaxing response in endothelium-intact rat aorta contracted with norepinephrine (NE). This relaxant effect was abolished by removal of the endothelium and also by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitors. Neither a muscarinic receptor antagonist nor a cyclooxygenase inhibitor altered the Ch1LW-induced relaxation. Tetramethylpyrazine, derived from Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii as a potent vasodilating component, induced a complete relaxation in both endothelium-intact and denuded rat aortas contracted by NE, but nitric oxide synthase inhibitors did not affect the relaxation. Ch1LW-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation was mediated by nitric oxide released from the endothelium, and could be caused by component(s) other than tetramethylpyrazine.