OBJECTIVETo observe the time-effect relation of extracts from ginseng, notoginseng and chuanxiong on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced senescence of vascular endothelial cells and explore the feature of Chinese medicine against vascular diseases.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cultured in vitro were stimulated with 10(-6) mol/L AngII to induce cell senescence, which were divided into 4 groups, the blank control group, the Ang II model group, the extracts group and the telmisartan group. The β-gal was used to identify senescence of cells, the cell counting kit-8 method was applied to assess the cell viability, the cell function was examined with the level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the flow cytometry was used for analyzing the cell cycle changes.

RESULTSCompared with the control cells, the cells positive for β-gal staining was significantly increased in the Ang II model group, and showed cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase with decreased S and G2/M phase cell percentage, eNOS expression and cell viability (P<0.05). The extracts and telmisartan treatment of Ang II-induced cells resulted in decreased β-gal positive cells with a reduction in G0/G1 phase cells and an increasing in S, G2/M phase cells and eNOS expression (P<0.05). At 24 h, the extracts were more effective than telmisartan (P<0.05); while telmisartan was more effective at 48 h (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONExtracts from ginseng, notoginseng and chuanxiong can delay Ang II-induced aging of HUVECs and may play an important role in early senescence.