Abstract: Objective To compare the chemical components in Baishao and Chishao water extracts and investigate their effects on
the proliferation of rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells in vitro. Methods The contents and chemical structures of monomers
separated from the water extracts of Baishao and Chishao were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and
mass spectroscopy. Rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cell line A7r5 and its platelet-derived growth factor-BB
(PDGF-BB)-induced proliferation model were exposed to different concentrations of Baishao and Chishao water extracts, and the
cell viability was analyzed by mitochondrial-dependent reduction of MTT and real-time cell analyzer. Results The growth of
A7r5 cells was significantly stimulated by 300 μg/ml Baishao water extract (P<0.01), but Chishao water extract produced no such
effect (P>0.05). In PDGF-BB-induced cell proliferation model, the cell growth was significantly suppressed by 100-500 μg/ml
Chishao water extract (P<0.01), while Baishao water extract showed no obvious effect on the cell proliferation (P>0.05).
Conclusion Baishao and Chishao water extracts have different chemical components and produce different biological effects.