(2015) Chrysanthemumboreale flower floral water inhibits platelet-derived growth factor-stimulated migration and proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells, Pharmaceutical Biology, 53:5, 725-734, DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014 Context: Chrysanthemum boreale Makino (Compositae) (CBM) is a traditional medicine that has been used for the prevention or treatment of various disorders; it has various properties including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antitumor. Objective: The present study was designed to explore the in vitro effect of CBM flower floral water (CBMFF) on atherosclerosis-related responses in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). Materials and methods: CBMFF was extracted from CBM flower by steam distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The anti-atherosclerosis activity of CBMFF was tested by estimating platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB (10 ng/mL)-induced proliferation and migration levels and intracellular kinase pathways in RASMCs at CBMFF concentrations of 0.01-100 lM and analyzing ex vivo aortic ring assay. Results: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that the CBMFF contained a total of seven components. The CBMFF inhibits PDGF-BB-stimulated RASMC migration and proliferation (IC 50 : 0.010 lg/mL). Treatment of RASMCs with PDGF-BB induced PDGFR-b phosphorylation and increased the phosphorylations of MAPK p38 and ERK1/2. CBMFF addition prevented PDGF-BBinduced phosphorylation of these kinases (IC 50 : 008 and 0.018 lg/mL, for p38 MAPK and ERK1/ 2, respectively), as well as PDGFR-b (IC 50 : 0.046 lg/mL). Treatment with inhibitors of PDGFR, P38 MAPK, and ERK1/2 decreased PDGF-BB-increased migration and proliferation in RASMCs. Moreover, the CBMFF suppressed PDGF-BB-increased sprout outgrowth of aortic rings (IC 50 : 0.047 lg/mL). Discussion and conclusion: These results demonstrate that CBMFF may inhibit PDGF-BB-induced vascular migration and proliferation, most likely through inhibition of the PDGFR-b-mediated MAPK pathway; therefore, the CBMFF may be promising candidate for the development of herbal remedies for vascular disorders.