Anhuienoside C ameliorates atherosclerosis in rats via regulation of the NFκB/eNOS/NO signaling pathway

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of anhuienoside C (AC) against high cholesterol dietinduced atherosclerosis in a rat model.
 Methods: Atherosclerosis was induced in rats by administration of high fat diet for 8 weeks, and AC (20 and 40 mg/kg) was administered orally. The effect of AC was determined by assessing serum lipid profiles and mediators of inflammation, as well as oxidative stress parameters in aortic tissue using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used for the evaluation of protein expressions.
 Results: Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDLP), and IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and NF-κB were significantly reduced in AC-treated group, relative to atherosclerotic rats (p < 0.01). Moreover, parameters of oxidative stress were attenuated in the aortic tissues of AC-treated group, when compared with atherosclerotic rats. There was significant increase in eNOS expression, and marked decrease in the expressions of MAPK and NF-kB protein in the aortic tissue homogenate of AC treated group, relative to atherosclerotic group (p <0.01). Treatment with AC attenuated the mRNA expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and MCP-1 in aortic tissue of the atherosclerotic rats.
 Conclusion: These results reveal that AC prevents atherosclerosis in rats by modulating the NFκB/eNOS/NO signaling pathway, and thus, can thus potentially be developed as anti-atherosclerotic agent.
 Keywords: Anhuienoside C, Atherosclerosis, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Cholesterol

Cardio-protective and Anti-atherosclerosis Effect of Crocetin on Vitamin D3 and HFD-induced Atherosclerosis in Rats

“…Inflammatory mediators and metabolism disorder commonly observed in the aorta of hypercholesterolemic rats. According to previous research, an unusual inflammatory response can play a significant role in the spread and development of AS 36,37 . During atherosclerosis condition, the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 were activated by endothelial cell propagation and activation of macrophages.…”

“…Previous investigation suggests that atherosclerosis not only contributed in the hyperlipidemic condition but also take part in the inflammatory response 36 . ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are chemokines that act on adhering to the monocytes into the subendothelial space, which are observed to be different in the endothelium at pro-inflammatory state 37 . During the higher inflammatory condition, the invaded macrophages tend to release inflammatory cytokines include TNF-α and further activate the inflammatory reaction by activating the formation of foam cells.…”