title: [Effect of crucumin on vascular endothelial function in atherosclerotic rabbits].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of curcumin on nitric oxide (NO) in plasma of atherosclerotic rabbits, activity of constitutive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and discuss curcumin's effect against AS and its correlation with ADMA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight male Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: the control group (eight rabbits fed with standard diets), the model group (ten rabbits fed with high-fat diets), the low dose curcumin group (ten rabbits fed with high-fat diets and 100 mg . kg-1 d -1 ) and the high dose curcumin group (ten rabbits fed with high-fat diets and 200 mg kg-1 d-1 curcumin). At the end of the 12th week, their plasmas were tested for TC, LDL-C, NO, endothelin (ET) , ADMA and activity of aortic cNOS. Aortic tissues were collected for histological examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups fed with high-fat diets showed higher plasma ADMA and ET than the control group (P <0. 01) , but with decrease in plasma NO concentration and arterial cNOS activity (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group (P <0. 05) , the curcumin groups showed lower plasma ADMA and ET (P <0. 05), but higher plasma NO concentration and arterial cNOS activity than the model group (P <0. 01). There was no significant difference between the two curcumin groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Curcumin may play an important protective role in AS process by reducing plasma ADMA level. [Key words] atherosclerosis; asymmetric dimethylarginine; crucumin; nitric oxide; nitric oxide synthase
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China. chenxiao0909@163.com
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Nuo
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Hong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Huai-Qin
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003474:Curcumin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D003474:Curcumin