Objective: To compare the chemical components in Baishao and Chishao water extracts and investigate their effects on the proliferation of rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells in vitro.
Methods: The contents and chemical structures of monomers separated from the water extracts of Baishao and Chishao were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. Rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cell line A7r5 and its platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation model were exposed to different concentrations of Baishao and Chishao water extracts, and the cell viability was analyzed by mitochondrial-dependent reduction of MTT and real-time cell analyzer.
Results: The growth of A7r5 cells was significantly stimulated by 300 µg/ml Baishao water extract (P<0.01), but Chishao water extract produced no such effect (P>0.05). In PDGF-BB-induced cell proliferation model, the cell growth was significantly suppressed by 100-500 µg/ml Chishao water extract (P<0.01), while Baishao water extract showed no obvious effect on the cell proliferation (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Baishao and Chishao water extracts have different chemical components and produce different biological effects.