Role of endothelium/nitric oxide in vascular response to flavonoids and epicatechin

AIM: To examine the role of endothelium in the vascular responses to flavonoids, baicalein, baicalin, cardamonin, alpinetin, and to purified jasmine green tea (-) epicatechin in the isolated rat mesenteric artery rings. METHODS: The isometric contraction was measured by Grass force-displacement transducers. RESULTS: Both baicalein and baicalin enhanced the phenylephrine-induced contractile response in the endothelium-intact rings. This enhancement was abolished by pretreatment with the nitric oxide inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine or in the absence of the endothelium. Both flavonoids also inhibited the acetylcholine-induced endothelial nitric oxide-dependent relaxation. In contrast, cardamonin, alpinetin or (-)epicatechin induced both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation. N-G-nitro-L-arginine meyhyl ester or endothelium denudation attenuated the endothelium-dependent relaxation to the same extent. CONCLUSION: Baicalein and baicalin enhanced the phenylephrine-induced contraction most likely through inhibiting production or/and release of endothelial nitric oxide. Whilst, cardamonin-, alpinetin- or (-)epicatechin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation is primarily mediated through endothelial nitric oxide.