title: Arctium lappa ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in rats fed with high fat/cholesterol diets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae), burdock, is a medicinal plant that is popularly used for treating hypertension, gout, hepatitis, and other inflammatory disorders. This study was performed to test the effect of ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. (EAL) seeds on vascular reactivity and inflammatory factors in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD).
  
  
  METHODS
  EAL-I (100 mg·kg-1/day), EAL-II (200 mg·kg-1/day), and fluvastatin (3 mg·kg-1/day) groups initially received HFCD alone for 8 weeks, with EAL supplementation provided during the final 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with low or high doses of EAL markedly attenuated plasma levels of triglycerides and augmented plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL markedly reduced impairments of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aortic rings. Furthermore, chronic treatment with EAL significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and maintained smooth and flexible intimal endothelial layers in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL suppressed upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and E-selectin in the aorta. Chronic treatment with EAL also suppressed increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression. These results suggested that EAL can inhibit HFCD-induced vascular inflammation in the rat model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides evidence that EAL ameliorates HFCD-induced vascular dysfunction through protection of vascular relaxation and suppression of vascular inflammation.
authors.affiliation: College of Oriental Medicine and Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Deok Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Guk Hyun
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jin Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae Gill
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ho Sub
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D031170:Arctium; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004041:Dietary Fats; D019040:E-Selectin; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2