title: Progression of atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries and related gene expression: protective effect of phytonutrients.
abstract: We investigated the effect of the phytocompound Denshici-to-Chiusei (DTS) on the atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E(-/-)/low-density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) (apoE(-/-)/LDL receptor(-/-)) mice (E0). E0 mice were fed for 16 weeks with: (1) placebo or (2) 25 mg or (3) 50 mg of DTS/day. Aortic lesions were reduced by 38% (p < 0.01) in mice fed 50 mg/day, whereas peritoneal macrophages after both dosages had a 45%-60% lower (p < 0.01) capacity to oxidize LDL and to degrade it. This was associated with reduced LDL-associated lipoperoxides and a 22% inhibition (p < 0.05) in LDL aggregation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and immunoreactivity in the aortic media increased five-fold, but this was significantly mitigated by DTS (50 mg > 25 mg) (p < 0.05). DTS significantly attenuated inflammatory mechanisms preceding atherogenesis with reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation-aggregation.
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: Hariom
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Ascanio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polimeni
authors.forename: Alao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Locorotondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D031283:Eucommiaceae; D005502:Food; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D005894:Panax; D053723:Panax notoginseng / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C551353:Denshici-to-Chiusei; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011973:Receptors, LDL