Study of N-butanol extract of Potentilla anserina L. in down-regulating expression levels of HIF-1α and ET-1 in hypoxia endothelial cells

[Objective] To study the protective effect of n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. on EA.hy926 endothelial cells exposed to hypoxia. [Methods] The model of hypoxia injury was established with human umbilical vein endothelial cell line(EA.hy926). The cell death was determined by Trypan blue staining assay. The expression levels of HIF-1α and ET-1 m RNA were detected by reverse transcription-PCR assay. The Western blot and imuunocytochemistry were used for determining HIF-1α protein. The ET-1 protein was detected with radioimmunoassay. [Results] Compared with control group, the survival rate of cell was significantly increased after pretreated with 3, 1.5 and 0.75 g/L of n-butanol extract of Potentilla anserine L. Meanwhile, the m RNAs of HIF-1 and ET-1 and their protein products were significantly decreased. [Conclusion] Potentilla anserina L. could exert its protective effect on endothelial cells during hypoxia injury by modulating expression of target genes through HIF-1α pathway.