Vasorelaxant Effects of the Vitex Agnus-Castus Extract

Figure 3

Bradykinin and zaprinast upregulated, whereas L-NAME and ODQ downregulated the relaxant effects of VACE in aorta rings precontracted with PE. Arithmetic means ± SEM (n = 5–12) of the basal tonus (1-st bar) and the relaxation responses precontracted with PE (0.5 µM) alone (2-nd bar) PE and (0.75 mg/mL) VACE (3-rd bar) PE and (100 nM) bradykinin and VACE (4-rth bar, PE and (100 µM) L-NAME and VACE (5-th bar) PE and (10 µM) ODQ and VACE (6-th bar), or PE and (10 µM) zaprinast and VACE (7-th bar). In all cases where indicated, bradykinin, L-NAME, ODQ, and zaprinast were preincubated for 5 min. Statistical significance (, , and ) between treatments, was as indicated in the figure. VACE-induced aortic relaxation involves prostaglandins production.