Our previous research indicated that NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4) promotes Ang II‐induced cardiac hypertrophy via the pathway of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐a disintegrin and metalloproteinase‐17 (ADAM17) in cultured primary cardiomyocytes.11 Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the Nox4‐ROS‐ADAM17 pathway is involved in the protective role of rutaecarpine in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy in the rats subjected to AAC. This evidence concerns the gene ADAM17 and cardiac hypertrophy.