Suppression of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia by scutellarin in rats.
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. A major active ingredient, scutellarin, from the plant Erigeron breviscapus was investigated for its hypocholesterolemic and atheroscleroprotective effects (30 and 100 mg/kg/day, P. O.). The serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol) was monitored and aortic functions in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with normal diet, atherogenic diet or atherogenic diet plus oral administration of either scutellarin or simvastatin (a positive control) were tested. It was found that scutellarin markedly attenuated the increased serum total cholesterol induced by atherogenic diet. It caused a significant reduction in the atherogenic index. In addition, scutellarin administration could significantly enhance acetylcholine-induced nitrate/nitrite production, increase the gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and improve acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat isolated aortas. These data revealed that scutellarin could reduce the atherogenic properties of dietary cholesterol in rats. However, whether scutellarin's atheroscleroprotective potential targets endothelial function directly or indirectly on its antioxidative activity remains to be determined.
Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
Qing
Q
Li
Jian-Hong
JH
Wu
De-Jian
DJ
Guo
Huan-Le
HL
Cheng
Shi-Lin
SL
Chen
Shun-Wan
SW
Chan
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047310:Apigenin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005965:Glucuronates; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; C484876:scutellarin; D047310:Apigenin; D002784:Cholesterol; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat