title: Ethanolic Extract of Vitis thunbergii Exhibits Lipid Lowering Properties via Modulation of the AMPK-ACC Pathway in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits.
abstract: Vitis thunbergii (VT) is a wild grape that has been shown to provide various cardioprotective effects. The present study was designed to examine whether a VT extract could reduce serum lipid levels and prevent atherogenesis in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model. At the end of an 8-week study, our results showed that a VT extract supplement markedly suppressed the serum levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, reduced lipid accumulation in liver tissues, and limited aortic fatty streaks. Our findings suggest that the VT extract activated AMPK (5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) with subsequent inhibition of the activation of ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase). Our results suggest that this VT extract could be further developed as a potential lipid-lowering agent and as a natural health food to prevent atherogenesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wen-Hsin
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guo-Yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chieh-Hsi
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu