effect of scurrula atropurpurea on nitric oxide, endothelial damage, and endothelial progenitor cells of doca-salt hypertensive rats

objective(s):to know whether scurrula atropurpurea is able to modulate total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels, decrease endothelial damage, and increase endothelial progenitor cells (epcs) in hypertensive rats. materials and methods: the rats were divided in 5 groups: control (normotensive) group, desoxy cortico sterone (doca)-salt hypertensive group, and three doca-salt hypertensive groups. all 5 groups received methanolic extract of s. atropurpurea (mesa) at a dosage of 50; 100; and 200 mg/kgbw. serum nitric oxide (no) was assayed by colorimetric. circulating endothelial cells (cecs) and epcs were assayed using flow cytometry. results: the administration of mesa100 and mesa200 elevated the total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels but cannot reach the level in control group.  mesa100 and mesa200 also elevated the epcs number compared with hypertensive group. the administration of mesa significantly (p< 0.05) decreased the cecs number compared to hypertensive groups. conclusion: methanolic extract of s. atropurpurea is able to modulate total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels and diminish endothelial damage via increasing epcs.