Figure 2.

Effects of emodin on agonist-induced vasoconstriction and nonspecific cytotoxicities in aortic rings. Aortic rings with endothelium were pretreated with emodin for 2 h, then (A) 5-HT- and (B) ET-1-induced contractions were measured. (C) Cytotoxicity was determined by LDH leakage in emodin-treated aortic rings. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC; 100 μM) was used as positive control. (D) Aortic rings with endothelium were treated with emodin for 24 h, apoptosis was measured using TUNNEL assay. Monomethylarsonous acid (MMA, 5 μM) was used as positive control. Values are mean ± SEM of three to four independent experiments. *Represents significant differences from control (anova and Duncan's post hoc analysis, P < 0.05).