Reduction of oxidative stress and apoptosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits by ellagic acid.
Oxidative stress is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease. Ellagic acid is a phenolic compound present in fruits and nuts, and has been found to have antioxidative property. Twenty-four New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were assigned randomly into four dietary groups. The normal group was fed regular rabbit chow, and the cholesterol group was fed a high fat and cholesterol diet. The ellagic acid (E) group and probucol group were fed the same diet as the cholesterol group plus the addition of 1% (w/w diet) ellagic acid and probucol, respectively. Oxidative stress [as measured by plasma lipids, oxygen free radicals and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)] increased in the cholesterol group compared with the normal group; however, it decreased in the probucol and E groups compared with the cholesterol group. Forty-five percent of the intimal surface of the thoracic aorta was covered with atherosclerotic lesions in the cholesterol group, but only 2-3% was covered in the E and probucol groups. The aortic level of 8-(OH)dG and the expression of caspase-8, caspase-9 and Fas ligand were also suppressed after ellagic acid supplement. These results indicated that ellagic acid could prevent atherosclerosis via suppression of oxidative stress and apoptosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits.
Yu
Ya-Mei
YM
Department of Nutrition, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. yuyamei@hotmail.com
Chang
Weng-Cheng
WC
Wu
Chieh-Hsi
CH
Chiang
Su-Yin
SY
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004610:Ellagic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011341:Probucol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D008055:Lipids; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D004610:Ellagic Acid; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D011341:Probucol