Effect of Ruscus extract and hesperidin methylchalcone on hypoxia-induced activation of endothelial cells

Background. Ruscus aculeatus extract and the flavonoid hesperidin methylchalcone (HMC) are drugs used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. Methods. In the present study, we investigated their effects on the activation of endothelial cells by hypoxia, a condition which mimics venous blood stasis. Results. We observed that Ruscus extract was able to inhibit the activation of endothelial cells by hypoxia: the decrease in ATP content, the activation of phospholipase A 2 as well as the subsequent increase in neutrophil adherence with a maximal protection obtained at 50 pglml. HMC was also able to inhibit the hypoxia-induced decrease in ATP content. Furthermore, the effects of Ruscus extract and of HMC on this decrease seem to be additive. Conclusions. The biochemical mechanism evidenced in this work might explain some of the beneficial therapeutic effects of these products in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency patients.