title: Effects of Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi Prescription (), A Chinese herbal preparation, on atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice and related mechanisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to observe the effects and the possible mechanisms of Fufang Zhenzhu Tiaozhi Prescription (, FZT), a Chinese herbal preparation, on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice. METHODS: ApoE-/- mice were randomized to groups orally administrated without or with FZT (4.5 and 9 g crude drug/kg body weight, respectively). Atherosclerotic plaques, lipids profifiles in serum, aortic cholesterol content, serum indices of oxidative stress were measured, and mRNA expressions of scavenger receptors CD36 and scavenger receptor-A (SR-A) in aorta were analyzed. RESULTS: FZT dose-dependently suppressed the atherosclerotic plaques and reduced the cholesterol contents in aorta (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, FZT decreased the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01), inhibited the production of oxidized low density lipoprotein and malonaldehyde, and increased the superoxide dismutase activity in serum (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, FZT down-regulated the mRNA expressions of CD36 and SR-A in the aorta (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: FZT reduced the atherosclerotic formation in ApoE-/- mice. The mechanisms might be related to the decrease of serum lipid level, the improvement of oxidative stress and the down-regulated expressions of scavenger receptors CD36 and SR-A, consequently reducing the foam cell formation, the hallmark of early atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Research Institute, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Tian
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Li-Jing
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Duo-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wei-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Bei