title: Triterpenoids isolated from Zizyphus jujuba inhibit foam cell formation in macrophages.
abstract: Because foam cell formation in macrophages is believed to play an essential role in the progression of early atherosclerotic lesions in vivo, prevention of foam cell formation is considered to be one of the major targets for the treatment of atherosclerosis. The present study examined the inhibitory effect of 50 crude plant extracts on foam cell formation. Among those crude extracts, Zizyphi Fructus (ZF) and Zizyphi Semen (ZS) extracts significantly inhibited the foam cell formation induced by acetylated LDL. Furthermore, triterpenoids such as oleanonic acid, pomolic acid, and pomonic acid were the major active compounds, and triterpenoids containing a carboxylic acid at C-28 play an important role in the inhibitory effect on foam cell formation in human macrophages. These data suggest that triterpenoids in Zizyphus jujuba , the plant source of ZF and ZS, may therefore be useful for the prevention of atherosclerosis.
authors: Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
authors: Yukio
authors: Y
authors: Fujiwara
authors: Akinori
authors: A
authors: Hayashida
authors: Keiichiro
authors: K
authors: Tsurushima
authors: Ryoji
authors: R
authors: Nagai
authors: Makiko
authors: M
authors: Yoshitomi
authors: Norika
authors: N
authors: Daiguji
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Sakashita
authors: Motohiro
authors: M
authors: Takeya
authors: Sachiko
authors: S
authors: Tsukamoto
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005487:Foam Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031957:Ziziphus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes