Effects of fistular onion stalk extract on the level of NO and expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelium cells

Abstract

The stalk of Allium schoenoprasum L (fistular onion stalk) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, we investigated the effects of fistular onion stalk extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelium cells (HUVECs). We found that the extracts of fistular onion stalk significantly increased the level of NO and the activity of eNOS. Our findings demonstrated that fistular onion stalk extracts could be a good candidate for new drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases by enhancing endothelial production of NO.

Key word: Allium schoenoprasum L, endothelium cells, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase.