Formula for nitric oxide

A University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston study suggests that ancient Chinese herbal formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications including heart disease may produce large amounts of artery-widening nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is crucial to the cardiovascular system because it signals the inner walls of blood vessels to relax, which facilitates the flow of blood through the heart and circulatory system. The messenger molecule also eliminates dangerous clots, lowers high blood pressure and reduces artery-clogging plaque formation.

The results from the study say that ancient Chinese herbal formulas "have profound nitric oxide bioactivity primarily through the enhancement of nitric oxide in the inner walls of blood vessels, but also through their ability to convert nitrite and nitrate into nitric oxide, " said Nathan S. Bryan, Ph.D., the study's senior author and assistant professor in the university's Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases (IMM).

Chinese herbal formulas marketed in the United States are not considered drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but are instead considered dietary supplements and are not regulated as strictly as drugs.

Herbal formulas popular in traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), though so are less scientifically valid treatments like acupuncture and massage. "TCMs have provided leads to safe medications in cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, " said C. Thomas Caskey, M.D., IMM director and CEO. "The opportunity for Dr. Bryan's work is outstanding given that cardiac disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States."

In the study, researchers performed laboratory tests on DanShen, GuaLou and other herbs purchased at a Houston store to assess their ability to produce nitric oxide. Ancient Chinese herbal formulas used primarily for cardiovascular indications are made up of three to 25 herbs. The formulas can be administered as tablets, elixirs, soups and teas.

Scientists also tested the capacity of the store-bought TCMs to widen blood vessels in an animal model. "Each of the TCMs tested in the assays relaxed vessels to various degrees, " the authors stated.