Goto H, Shimada Y, Tanaka N, Tanigawa K, Itoh T, Terasawa K
Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani 2630, Toyama 930-01, Japan.
Phytother Res. 1999 Sep;13(6):526-8. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199909)13:6<526::aid-ptr487>3.0.co;2-o.
This study examined the effect of Paeoniae Radix (PR) on endothelial function and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of erythrocytes in rats administered a high-fat diet. Administration of the extract of PR increased the endothelium-dependent relaxation and the activities of SOD compared with high the cholesterol diet group significantly. Hypercholesterolaemia induced an increase of endothelial superoxide anion and endothelial dysfunction. Paeoniae Radix is suggested to have a protective effect on endothelial cells and their function.