참마 유래 Diosgenin의 혈관 수축성 조절 효과

The Effect of Dioscorea villosa Derived-diosgenin on Vascular Contractility

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of diosgenin on vascular smooth muscle con- tractility and to determine the mechanism involved. We hypothesized that diosgenin, the primary ingredient of Dioscorea villosa, plays a role in vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae. Denuded arterial rings from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used and isometric tensions were recorded using a computerized data acquisition system. Inter-estingly, diosgenin inhibited fluoride-induced contraction but didn't inhibit phorbol ester-induced contraction suggesting that additional pathways different from endothelial nitric oxide synthesis such as inhibition of Rho-kinase might be involved in the vasorelaxation. Furthermore, diosgenin didn't inhibit thromboxane A2-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels suggesting the mechanism excluding inhibition of thromboxane A2-induced increases in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. This study provides evidence that diosgenin induces vascular relaxation through inhibition of Rho-kinase in rat aortae.