Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. (GP) has been reported in previous studies to possess antihyperlipidaemic, antioxidative, and cardioprotective properties. This study was aimed to determine the effect of standardised 80% ethanol extract of GP on lipid profiles and oxidative status of hypercholesterolemic rats. Postmenopausal (PM) Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomised and fed with 2% cholesterol diet fortified with five times heated palm oil to develop hyperlipidaemia status. Two doses of the extract (250 and 500 mg/kg) and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) were administered once daily via oral gavage for 24 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was increased during the first month in the postmenopausal group and decreased with GP supplementation. Lipid droplets accumulation was shown at the tunica media (TM) area of the aorta in the postmenopausal group and reduced with GP supplementation. Total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased (p < 0.05) at 3 and 6 months in the postmenopausal group and were reduced with GP supplementation. GP also increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level in the postmenopausal group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were reduced in the postmenopausal group compared to control in the sham group but increased (p < 0.05) with GP supplementation. The results showed that the higher dose of GP (500 mg/kg) gave better effect. GP has the ability to reduce oxidative stress and prevent membrane cell damage through antioxidant enzyme activity modification and lipid profile changes in postmenopausal rats related to atherosclerosis.

Context Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. (Asteraceae) has been reported to have various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. Objective This study sought to determine whether Gynura procumbens (GP) could improve vascular reactivity by suppressing inflammation in postmenopausal rats fed with five-times heated palm oil (5HPO) diet. Materials and methods Forty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham [non-ovariectomized; grouped as control, GP extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg), atorvastatin (ATV, 10 mg/kg)] and postmenopausal (PM) groups [ovariectomized rats fed with 5HPO; grouped as PM, GP extracts (250 and 500 mg/kg) and ATV (10 mg/kg)]. Each group ( n = 6) was either supplemented with GP extract or ATV orally once daily for 6 months. Results In comparison with the untreated PM group, 250 and 500 mg/kg GP supplementation to PM groups reduced the systolic blood pressure (103 ± 2.7, 86 ± 2.4 vs. 156 ± 7.83 mmHg, p < 0.05), intima-media thickness (101.28 ± 3.4, 93.91 ± 2.93 vs. 143.78 ± 3.31 µM), vasoconstriction percentage induced by phenylephrine (102.5%, 88.3%, vs. 51.8%), sICAM-1 (0.49, 0.26 vs. 0.56 pg/mL) and sVCAM-1 (0.39, 0.25 vs. 0.45 pg/mL). GP extract supplementation increased vasorelaxation percentage induced by acetylcholine (78.4% vs. 47.3%) and sodium nitroprusside (84.2% vs. 53.7%), increased changes in plasma nitric oxide level (1.25%, 1.31% vs. 1.9%), and suppressed the elevation of TNF-α (0.39 vs. 1.02 pg/mL), IL-6 (0.43 vs. 0.77 pg/mL) and CRP (0.29 vs. 0.69 ng/mL) in the PM groups. Conclusions GP extract might improve vascular dysfunction by suppressing the inflammatory response, consequently preventing blood pressure elevation.

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Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart disease. Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) is an antioxidant and that has the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease. This study is to determine the protective effects of palm TRF against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCM). The NRCM were divided into control, treated with TRF (10 µg/mL), H2O2 (0.5 mM) and treated with TRF prior to H2O2 induction (pre-treatment). Cell viability was determined by the MTS assay,while the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined using fluorescent dihydroethidium (DHE) and 5-(and-6)-carboxy-2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (carboxy-H2DCFDA) dye. Mitochondrial integrity and cell death were determined using JC-1 and Annexin V-FITC staining, respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined by colorimetric assay kit. The concentration of H2O2 from 0.5 to 5 mM reduced the cell viability and the H2O2 IC50 value of 0.5 mM was used in the experiment. H2O2 induction increased the intensity of carboxy-H2DCFDA and DHE-stains; and also the intensity of green fluorescence of J-monomers in JC-1 staining compared to the control group. The activity of LDH increased while the activity of SOD decreased in the H2O2 group. Pre-treatment with TRF reduced the intensities of carboxy-H2DCFDA and DHE-stains, as well as the green fluorescence of J-monomers in JC-1. Meanwhile, the LDH activity was reduced in the pre-treatment group but no changes were recorded in SOD activity compared to the H2O2 group. Palm TRF protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative damage by reducing ROS production and maintaining the mitochondrial membrane integrity thus reducing cell death.