ABSTRACT Various benefits of flavonoids for ameliorating cardiovascular diseases have been demonstrated. However, the lowering effects on blood pressure caused by antiproliferative potentials of flavonoids in vascular smooth muscle cells are rare. In this study, the antihypertensive effects of total flavonoids from Ampelopsis megalophylla were investigated. The dynamic pressure values and the rate of media thickness versus lumen diameter were measured by the tail-cuff system and H&E staining in vivo, respectively. The mRNA expressions of ACE, Ang II, eNOS, c-Myc, cyclin D1 and p27Kip1 in thoracic aorta or A7r5 cells were measured by qPCR, respectively. The protein expressions of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, p27Kip1 and β-catenin in tissues or A7r5 cells were... |