title: Protective effect of the oligomeric acylphloroglucinols from Myrtus communis on cholesterol and human low density lipoprotein oxidation.
abstract: Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.), a culinary spice and flavouring agent for alcoholic beverages widespread in the Mediterranean area and especially in Sardinia, contains the structurally unique oligomeric non-prenylated acylphloroglucinols, semimyrtucommulone and myrtucommulone A, whose antioxidant activity was investigated during the oxidative modification of lipid molecules implicated in the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Both acylphloroglucinols showed powerful antioxidant properties during the thermal (140 degrees C), solvent-free degradation of cholesterol. Moreover, the pre-treatment with semimyrtucommulone and myrtucommulone A significantly preserved LDL from oxidative damage induced by Cu(2+) ions at 2h of oxidation, and showed remarkable protective effect on the reduction of polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol, inhibiting the increase of their oxidative products (conjugated dienes fatty acids hydroperoxides, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, and 7-ketocholesterol). Taking into account the widespread culinary use of myrtle leaves, the results of the present work qualify the natural compounds semimyrtucommulone and myrtucommulone A as interesting dietary antioxidants with potential antiatherogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Biologia Sperimentale, Sezione Patologia Sperimentale, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, SS 554, Km 4.5, 09042 Monserrato (CA), Italy. anrosa@unica.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: M Paola
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Melis
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deiana
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atzeri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Appendino
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Incani
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loru
authors.forename: M Assunta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dessì
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D031651:Myrtus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D002784:Cholesterol; D010696:Phloroglucinol; D010100:Oxygen