Fig. 4

Effects of recombinant Lb. plantarum NC8 (RLP) on the levels of nitric oxide (NO) (a), angiotensin II (Ang II) (b) and endothelin (ET) (c) in the plasma, kidneys and hearts of spontaneously hypertensive rats. The rats were orally treated with either RLP, Lb. plantarum NC8 or PBS for 14 continuous days, and then the samples were collected from 5 rats in each group at day 14. The measurements of NO, ET and Ang II levels were performed using ELISA kits, and the statistical significance was calculated by one-way ANOVA test. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 vs. PBS control