Figure 2 Emodin increased nitrate/nitrite production and upregulated aortic eNOS. (A) In vitro nitrate/nitrite production from isolated aortas challenged with acetylcholine (1 μM). (B) Emodin upregulated aortic eNOS mRNA expression and (C) p-eNOS protein expression. Aortic eNOS mRNA and p-eNOS protein levels were determined by RT-qPCR and western blotting, respectively. Data are expressed as means±SD, n=6–8. HCD – high-cholesterol diet group; SIM – simvastatin (10 mg/kg) treatment group; EH – high-dose emodin (100 mg/kg) treatment group; EM – medium-dose emodin (30 mg/kg) treatment group; EL – low-dose emodin (10 mg/kg) treatment group; T-eNOS – total endothelial nitric oxide synthase; p-eNOS – phosphorylated/activated form of eNOS. # P<0.05, ## P<0.01, ### P<0.001 vs standard diet control group; * P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001 vs untreated HCD group.