title: Chinese herbs Danshen and Gegen modulate key early atherogenic events in vitro.
abstract: Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and Gegen (Radix puerariae) are two herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine, most commonly for their putative cardioprotective and anti-atherosclerotic effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of a preparation of these herbs on two key processes in the early stages of atherosclerosis; macrophage lipid loading and monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. Human monocyte derived macrophages (HMDMs) were treated with 0.1-1.0 mg/ml of the herbal mixture in aqueous buffers and loaded with acetylated LDL (AcLDL) (50 microg/ml) for 72 h, and analyzed for cholesterol (C) and cholesteryl esters (CE), via HPLC. Human endothelial cell monolayers were also treated with 0.1-1.0 mg/ml of the herbal mixture and monocyte adhesion measured. Cell adhesion molecules E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were assessed via ELISA. Compared to control conditions, the herbal mixture induced a significant dose-related decrease in the total cholesterol (free and esterified) in the HMDMs (p<0.001 by ANOVA). By contrast, the herbs also induced an increase in ICAM-1 expression (p<0.001) and monocyte adhesion at higher concentrations (p<0.05). In conclusion, treatment of cells with this preparation of Danshen and Gegen, a commonly used Chinese health supplement, results in a dose-related suppression of AcLDL uptake by human macrophages, and an increase in the level of ICAM-1 expression and adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells. These herbs therefore show the ability to modulate key early events in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Institute, 145 Missenden Road, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. d.sieveking@hri.org.au
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sieveking
authors.forename: Kam-Sang
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kwok P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lundman
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakhla
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Celermajer
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza; D013997:Time Factors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019040:E-Selectin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D028321:Plant Preparations; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C032629:acetyl-LDL; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002784:Cholesterol