Ruscogenin attenuates monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats

• Ruscogenin attenuated the process of MCT-induced PAH.
• Ruscogenin treatment resulted in markedly reduced expression of inflammatory cytokine and leukocyte infiltration.
• Ruscogenin improved endothelial function and attenuated endothelial apoptosis in pulmonary arterioles.

Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombosis contribute to the pathogenesis and development of human pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ruscogenin, a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic agent, on the development of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH in rats. Our results revealed that ruscogenin had favorable effects on hemodynamics and pulmonary vascular remodeling, preventing the development of PAH 3 weeks after MCT. In addition, ruscogenin resulted in markedly reduced expression of inflammatory cytokine and leukocyte infiltration via the inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity in rat lungs. Ruscogenin also attenuated MCT-induced endothelial cell apoptosis in the remodeled pulmonary arterioles and rescued destruction of endothelial cell membrane proteins such as eNOS, caveolin-1, and CD31. Our findings suggest that ruscogenin might have therapeutic benefits for PAH patients.