The present study sought to investigate a role for Syzygium cumini on VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in endothelial cells induced by plasma from preeclamptic patients. Endothelial cells were obtained from human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. At confluency, endothelial cells were divided into five groups, which included control (untreated), endothelial cells exposed to 2% plasma from preeclamptic patients (PP), endothelial cells exposed to PP in the presence of ethanolic extract of Syzygium cumini (PP + SC) at the following three doses: 100; 200; and 400 ppm. Analysis of ICAM-1 and VCAM-2 level were done by immunohistochemistry technically. This increase in VCAM-1 was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated by both the 200 and 400 ppm treatments of Syzygium cumini extract. Plasma from PP significantly increased ICAM-1 levels compared to untreated cells. This increase in ICAM-1 was significantly attenuated by the 400 ppm doses of the extract. In conclusion, Syzygium cumini extract prohibits the increase in VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in endothelial cells induced by plasma from preeclamptic patients. Therefore this may provide a natural therapy for attenuating the adhesion molecule induced by endothelial dysfunction found in this pregnancy complication.
Key words: Herbal medicine, pregnancy, hypertension, adheison molecules, Syzygium cumini
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