Nour Athiroh - Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, Islamic University of Malang, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
Nur Permatasari - Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
Djanggan Sargowo - Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Saiful Anwar General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
M Aris Widodo - Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia

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 ۵ groups: control (normotensive) group, Desoxy cortico sterone (DOCA)-salt hypertensive group, and three DOCA-salt hypertensive groups. All ۵ groups received methanolic extract of S. atropurpurea (MESA) at a dosage of ۵۰; ۱۰۰; and ۲۰۰ 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 MESA۱۰۰ and MESA۲۰۰ elevated the total plasma nitrate/nitrite levels but cannot reach the level in control group.  MESA۱۰۰ and MESA۲۰۰ also elevated the EPCs number compared with hypertensive group. The administration of MESA significantly (P< ۰.۰۵) 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.

Endothelial damage, Endothelial prgenitor cells, Hypertensive, Nitric oxide