title: Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Polygonum aviculare L. ethanol extract in ApoE knock-out mice fed a Western diet mediated via the MAPK pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polygonum aviculare L. has been used in traditional Korean medicine to treat obesity and symptoms associated with hypertension. The effectiveness or mechanism of Polygonum aviculare L. ethanol extract (PAE) on atherosclerosis disease has not been examined experimentally. This study investigated the protective effect of PAE in atherosclerotic mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  ApoE KO mice were fed a Western diet (WD) alone or with PAE or a statin for 12 weeks, followed by analysis of bodyweight, serum lipid levels, and blood pressure. Staining of the aorta and adipose tissue, expression levels of adhesion molecules, and the MAPK pathway were also examined. Cell viability, NF-κB activity, and protein levels of adhesion molecules were assessed in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ApoE KO mice fed PAE (50 and 100 mg/kg) or statin (10 mg/kg) gained less body weight, and has less adipose tissue and lower serum lipid levels and blood pressures than the WD group. Aorta ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and NF-κB levels were decreased by PAE in a dose-dependent manner, consistent with the in vitro observations. PAE and statin decreased atherosclerotic plaque and adipocyte size versus the WD group. Furthermore, PAE decreased phosphorylation of MAPK pathway components in the aorta of PAE-treated mice, suggesting that PAE's anti-atherosclerotic effects are mediated via a MAPK pathway-dependent mechanism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAE may protect against the development of atherosclerotic disease. The beneficial effects are associated with lowering bodyweight, serum lipids, blood pressure, adhesion molecular protein levels, atherosclerotic plaque, and adipocyte size, involving the MAPK pathway.
authors.affiliation: Herbal Material Management Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haeng Park
authors.affiliation: Herbal Material Management Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Herbal Material Management Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jin Nho
authors.affiliation: Herbal Material Management Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hkkim@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Ho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kyoung Kim
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028502:Polygonum; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: ApoE; ApoE mice; Atherosclerosis; HASMC; ICAM; Inflammation; KIOM; Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine; NF-κB; Obesity; TNF-α; VCAM; apolipoprotein E; human aortic smooth muscle cell; intercellular adhesion molecule; nuclear factor-κB; tumor necrosis factor-α; vascular cell adhesion molecule