title: Changes in the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and c-reactive protein following administration of aqueous extract of piper sarmentosum on experimental rabbits fed with cholesterol diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation process plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of Piper sarmentosum (P.s) on inflammatory markers like vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty two male New Zealand white rabbits were divided equally into seven groups; (i) C- control group fed normal rabbit chow (ii) CH- cholesterol diet (1%cholesterol) (iii) X1- 1% cholesterol with water extract of P.s (62.5 mg/kg) (iv) X2- 1% cholesterol with water extract of P.s (125 mg/kg (v) X3- 1% cholesterol with water extract of P.s (250 mg/kg) (vi) X4- 1% cholesterol with water extract of P.s (500 mg/kg) and (vii) SMV group fed with 1% cholesterol supplemented with simvistatin drug (1.2 mg/kg). All animals were treated for 10 weeks. Blood serum was taken for observing the inflammatory markers at the beginning and end of the experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Rabbits fed with 1% cholesterol diet (CH) showed significant increase in the level of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and CRP compared to the C group. The levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and CRP in the 1% cholesterol group and supplemented with P.s (500 mg/kg) were significantly reduced compared to the cholesterol group. Similar results were also reported with simvistatin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the supplementation of Piper sarmentosum extract could inhibit inflammatory markers which in turn could prevent atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia. adel_emran@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adel A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Amran
authors.forename: Zaiton
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zakaria
authors.forename: Faizah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: Srijit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Hesham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Al-Mekhlafi
authors.forename: Nor-Anita Mm
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nordin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D031701:Piper / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein