Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: To explore the mechanism of xiongshao capsule on inducing angiogenesis by measuring its effects on nitrogen monoxide(NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serologic pharmacology method and reversed transcriptive polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)assay were used to measure the effects of serum containing different concetrations of xiaongshao capsule(4.17, 8.33 and 16.66 mg/ml, respectively) on NO and iNOS secretion and expressions of iNOS and eNOS mRNA. RESULTS: Serum containing 4.17 mg/ml xiaongshao capsule could promote the secretion of NO(P<0.01), whereas the concentrations of 4.17 and 8.33 mg/ml could promote the secretion of iNOS(P<0.01). RT-PCR showed serum containing 4.17 mg/ml xiaongshao capsule up-regulated the mRNA expressions of eNOS and iNOS significantly(P<0.01),and the concentraions of 8.33 and 16.66 mg/ml down-regulated the mRNA expressions of eNOS and iNOS significantly(P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The angiogenetic effect of serum containing 4.17 mg/ml xiongshao capsule may be attributed up-regulating the expressions of iNOS and eNOS mRNA and promoting nitrogen monoxid synthesis and secretion.

Key words: xiongshao capsule, human umbilical vein endothelial cell, nitrogen monoxide, inducible nitricoxide synthase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase