Mulberry leaf powder prevents atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
Mulberry is commonly used to feed silkworms. Here we examined whether a dietary intake of mulberry leaf (ML) could affect atherogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were fed either normal chow (control group) or a diet containing 1% ML powder (ML group) from 6 weeks of age. The mice were sacrificed after 12 weeks. The susceptibility of plasma lipoprotein to oxidation was assessed using diene formation. A significant increase in the lag time of lipoprotein oxidation was detected in the ML group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the ML group showed a 40% reduction in atherosclerotic lesion size in the aortae compared with the control. We also examined the direct anti-oxidative activity of ML in vitro. Aqueous extract of ML had a strong scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and inhibited lipoprotein oxidation. These results confirm that ML contains anti-oxidative substances that might help prevent atherosclerosis.
Harauma
Akiko
A
Department of Clinical Innovative Medicine, Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Murayama
Toshinori
T
Ikeyama
Kazuyuki
K
Sano
Hideto
H
Arai
Hidenori
H
Takano
Ryo
R
Kita
Toru
T
Hara
Saburo
S
Kamei
Kaeko
K
Yokode
Masayuki
M
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D031625:Morus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002784:Cholesterol