title: Aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
abstract: Ilex paraguariensis aqueous extract (mate) is an antioxidant-rich beverage widely consumed in South American countries. Here we questioned whether mate could reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in 1% cholesterol-fed rabbits. New Zealand White male rabbits (n = 32) were divided into four groups: control (C, n = 5), control-mate (CM, n = 5), hypercholesterolemic (HC, n = 11) and hypercholesterolemic-mate (HCM, n = 11). The daily water and mate extract consumption was approximately 400 ml. After 2 months of treatment, mate intake did not change the lipid profile or hepatic cholesterol content of control or hypercholesterolemic rabbits (p < 0.05). However, the atherosclerotic lesion area was considerably smaller in the hypercholesterolemic-mate group (HCM, 35.4% vs. HC, 60.1%; p < 0.05). In addition, the aortic cholesterol content was around half that of the HC group (HCM, 36.8 vs. HC, 73.9 microg/mg of protein, p < 0.05). In spite of this, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the atherosclerotic aorta, liver and serum, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in liver and aorta did not differ among groups (p > 0.05). The results showed that Ilex paraguariensis extract can inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits, although it did not decrease the serum cholesterol or aortic TBARS and antioxidant enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Analysis, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luiza Pamplona
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mosimann
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilhelm-Filho
authors.forename: Edson Luiz
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D030019:Ilex paraguariensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase