title: Anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic effects of Pinus eldarica Medw. nut in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggest that chemical constituents present in Pinus eldarica Medw (P. eldarica) nut possess antioxidant properties that may positively influence lipid profile. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of P. eldarica nut on the experimental atherosclerosis development in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male 6 months old white New Zealand rabbits (1.8-2 kg) were randomly assigned into five equal groups. One group was kept as control (normal) group, fed on standard rabbit diet and other 4 groups were fed on high cholesterol diet (HCD). Out of four HCD groups one group was kept as control (HCD) and other three groups were treated with different doses (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/day) of P. eldarica nut for 8 weeks. Percentage of aortic wall area changes as indication of atherosclerosis development and fasting blood cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels were determined in all groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicate that fasting blood cholesterol and aortic atherosclerotic involvements in 200 mg/kg/day and 100 mg/kg/day P. eldarica nut extract treated groups significantly decreased as compared to the high cholesterol-diet control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P. eldarica nut lowers blood cholesterol level and aortic atherosclerotic involvement in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Medicinal Plants Research Center, Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, Karaj, Iran. huseini_fallah@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hasan Fallah
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Huseini
authors.affiliation: Clinical and Surgical Pathology Department Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. dr_msotoudeh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maryam Sotoudeh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Anvari
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. tajallizade_yaser@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yaser Tajallizadeh
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Khoob
authors.affiliation: Experimental Research Center, Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. shrabbani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shahram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rabbani
authors.affiliation: Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 4th floor, No 4, Ostad Nejatollahi Street, Engelab Avenue, Tehran, Iran. farshad.sharifi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.affiliation: Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 4th floor, No 4, Ostad Nejatollahi Street, Engelab Avenue, Tehran, Iran. dr.arzaghi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyed Masoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arzaghi
authors.affiliation: Elderly Health Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 4th floor, No 4, Ostad Nejatollahi Street, Engelab Avenue, Tehran, Iran. Fakhrzad@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fakhrzadeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009754:Nuts / Q000737:chemistry; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028223:Pinus; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol