Comparison of anti-atherosclerotic effects of two different extracts from leaves of Mallotus furetianus

Objective:To compare the anti-atherosclerotic effects of two different extracts from the leaves of Mallotus fiiretianus by using rat model of atherosclerosis.Methods:The air-flriefl powdered Mallotus fiiretianus leaves were extracted with ethanol and then evaporated.The ethanol extract was experienced Diaion HP-20 CC with a gradient of MeOH and H2O（50:50,100:0,v/v） and two fractions,Mallotus fiiretianus A（Mf A） and Mallotus fiiretianus B（MfB） were obtained.RaLs were divided into control,atherosclerosis and vitamin E,Mf A and Mf B treated groups.Atherosclerotic model was established by administering u loading dose of vitamin D3 and feeding standard diet enriched with 2%cholesterol,0.5%porcine chelate,0.2%methimazole,5%sugar,10%pork fat. Vitamin E（0.20 g/kg）,Mf A（0.053 g/kg）,Mf B（0.057 g/kg）（with the potential） were administered to interfere with the development of atherosclerosis.After 9 weeks,rats were sacrificed and the blood lipid as well as composition of bile was examined.In addition,the thoracic aorta was harvested to evaluate histological changes and the intima-media thickness ratio.Results: Atherosclerosis model was successfully established,administration of vitamin E,Mf A and Mf B increased excretion of total bilirubin in bile,decreased triglycridc（TO）,total cholesterol（TC）, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol（LDL-C） level,enhanced ratio of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and LDL-C in blood,improved histological changes and diminished intimamedia thickness ratio of thoracic aorta in atherosclerotic rats.As for the difference in antiatherosclerotic effects between Mf A and MfB,Mf A may be more powerful in declining TG level and Mf B may be more effective in decreasing TC level.Conclusions:The two different extracts. Mf A and Mf B can prevent the development of atherosclerosis.In detail,Mf A is more effective in regulating TG level and Mf B is more powerful in modulating TC.level in atherosclerotic rats.

Anti-Obesity, Anti-Atherosclerotic and Anti-Oxidant Effects of Pu-Erh Tea on a High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rat Model

Pu-erh tea, a traditional Chinese beverage, has been believed to have many benefits to human health and without side effects. In this study, we systematically analyzed the main active components of Pu-erh tea and investigated its anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-oxidant effects using an obese rat model. Obesity was induced by feeding a high-fat diet and subsequently the experimental obese mice were fed with high-fat diet supplemented with low (2.5%), medium (5%) or high (7.5%) doses of Pu-erh tea powder for 6 weeks respectively. As result, the body weight gain of the rats was decreased by medium and high doses of Pu-erh tea treatments. Furthermore, the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and atherosclerosis index (AI) were significantly lowered by Pu-erh tea compared to the control group. Conversely, high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) level of the rats was significantly elevated by Pu-erh tea treatments. In addition, Pu-erh tea treatments increased the activities of anti-oxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxides (GSH-Px), whereas reduced the level of lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) in obese rats. Collectively, our find-ings revealed that Pu-erh tea exerts comprehensive benefits in anti-obesity, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-oxidant effects, therefore can be used as a promising functional food in obesity management.

Direct anti-atherosclerotic therapy preventing intracellular cholesterol retention

The key initiating process in atherogenesis is the subendothelial cholesterol retention, which is both necessary and sufficient to provoke lesion initiation. Retention of cholesterol transported by low density lipoprotien (LDL) in subendothelial cells of arterial wall, is an absolute requirement for lesion development. This allows us to consider intracellular cholesterol retention as a novel target for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. In this case, the target is not the level of blood cholesterol but the level of cholesterol in vascular cells. This review summarizes the results of our basic studies shedding light on the mechanisms of intracellular cholesterol retention. We describe our cellular models to search for anti-atherosclerotic agents and demonstrate the use of these models for the development of anti-atherosclerotic drugs. We use natural products as the basis of anti-atherosclerotic drugs because anti-atherosclerotic therapy should be long-term or even lifelong. Using cellular models and natural products, we have developed an approach to prevent intracellular cholesterol retention in cultured subendothelial aortic cells. We have developed drugs that reduce intracellular cholesterol retention, namely Allicor on the basis of garlic powder, anti-inflammatory drug Inflaminat (calendula, elder, and violet) possessing anti-cytokine activity and phytoestrogen-rich drug Karinat (garlic powder, extract of grape seeds, green tea leaves, hop cones, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid). Treatment with Allicor or Inflaminat caused regression of carotid atherosclerosis in asymptomatic men. Karinat prevented the development of new atherosclerotic plaques in postmenopausal women. Thus, the main findings of our basic research have been successfully translated into clinics. As a result, this translation, a novel approach to the development of anti-atherosclerotic therapy, has been established. Our clinical trials have confirmed the suitability of innovative approach and the efficacy of novel drugs developed on the basis our methodology.

Intracellular Cholesterol Retention—New Target for Direct Anti-Atherosclerotic Therapy

Accumulation of cholesterol in arterial cells, intracellular cholesterol retention, may be responsible for all major manifestations of atherosclerosis on a cellular level. Previously we have shown that intracellular cholesterol retention is the principal event in the genesis of atherosclerotic lesions. This allows us to consider cellular retention of cholesterol as a novel target for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. In this case the target is not the level of blood cholesterol but the level of cholesterol in vascular cells. This review describes our approach based on the use of cultured human arterial cells for the development of direct anti-atherosclerotic therapy. We use natural products as the basis of promising drugs for anti-atherosclerotic therapy. Using natural products, we have developed an approach to prevent intracellular cholesterol retention in cultured cells. Our knowledge of the mechanisms of atherosclerosis is the foundation on which we have developed drugs that have a direct anti-atherosclerotic effect, namely Allicor on the basis of garlic powder, anti-inflammatory drug Inflaminat (calendula, elder, and violet) possessing anti-cytokine activity and phytoestrogen-rich drug Karinat (garlic powder, extract of grape seeds, green tea leaves, hop cones, β-carotene, α-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid). Treatment with allicor or inflaminat has a direct anti-atherosclerotic effect on carotid atherosclerosis in asymptomatic men. Karinat prevents the development of carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. Thus, the main findings of our basic research have been successfully translated into clinical practice. As a result, this translation, a novel approach to the development of anti-atherosclerotic therapy, has been established. Our clinical trials have confirmed the suitability of innovative approach and the efficacy of novel drugs developed on the basis our methodology.