title: β-Elemene reduces the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits.
abstract: The present study aimed at investigating the possible effects of β-elemene on the progression of atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. The rabbit atherosclerosis model was established by the combination of balloon angioplasty-induced endothelial injury and an atherogenic diet fed to the rabbits. New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (8/group): the normal control group (fed with normal chow diet), and three experimental groups, placebo group, atorvastatin group, and β-elemene group (received the atherogenic diet). After two weeks on the diet, the three experimental groups underwent balloon injury at right common carotid artery and were treated with drugs or placebo for five weeks. Serum lipids were measured. Carotid artery lesions were isolated for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. In vitro, RAW264.7 macrophages were pretreated with β-elemene and ox-LDL for 24 h and the viability of macrophages was assayed using the MTT method. TNF-α and IL-6 were also determined. Compared with the control group, the thickness of the atherosclerosis lesion in the placebo group was significantly increased; The thickness the drug treatment groups were significantly decreased, compared with that of the placebo group. The infiltration of macrophage was markedly reduced in the β-elemene group compared with that of the placebo group. β-elemene treatment also reduced the levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, compared with the placebo group. β-elemene decreased the TNF-α and IL-6 levels in vitro. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that β-elemene retarded the progression of atherosclerosis in vivo and in vitro, which may be related to the capacity of β-elemene to reduce the infiltration of macrophages and suppress inflammatory factors.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Qinghai Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, New Drug Screening Center, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of TCM Evaluation and Translational Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China. Electronic address: shangjing21cn@163.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C445979:beta-elemene
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Inflammation; Macrophage; TNF-α; β-elemene