title: Diesel Exhaust Particles Induce Impairment  of Vascular and Cardiac Homeostasis in  Mice: Ameliorative Effect of Emodin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is strong epidemiological and clinical evidence that components of the cardiovascular system are adversely affected by particulate air pollutants through the generation of inflammation and oxidative stress. Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6- methylanthraquinone), which is commonly found in the roots of rhubarb plant, has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its possible protective effect on the cardiovascular effect of particulate air pollutants has never been reported before.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested, in Tuck-Ordinary mice, the possible ameliorative effect of emodin on the acute (24h) cardiovascular effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP, 1 mg/kg) or saline (control). Emodin (4 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 1h before and 7h after pulmonary exposure to DEP. Twenty four h following DEP exposure, several cardiovascular endpoints were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emodin significantly prevented the increase of leukocyte (n=8, P<0.001) and erythrocyte (n=8, P<0.01) numbers caused by DEP. Likewise, emodin abrogated DEP-induced increase of heart tissue levels of interleukin 1β (n=8, P<0.01) and tumour necrosis factor α (n=8, P<0.05), and significantly mitigated the change of the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (n=8, P<0.001) and glutathione reductase (n=8, P<0.05). Emodin abolished the in vivo prothrombotic effect of DEP in pial arterioles (n=6, P<0.01) and venules (n=6, P<0.001). Similarly, emodin prevented platelet aggregation in vitro in whole blood (n=4-5, P<0.01), and the shortening of activated partial thromboplastin time (n=4, P<0.001) and prothrombin time (n=4, P<0.01) caused by DEP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that emodin treatment has consistently protected against DEP-induced impairment of vascular and cardiac homeostasis in mice. Our study provides experimental evidence that the use of functional food such as emodin, pending further studies, can be considered a useful agent and may have the potential to protect or mitigate the cardiovascular detrimental effects observed in people living in cities with high concentrations of particulate air pollution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arabe Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. anemmar@uaeu.ac.ae
authors.forename: Abderrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nemmar
authors.forename: Rauda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al Dhaheri
authors.forename: Jawaher
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alamiri
authors.forename: Suhaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Hefeiti
authors.forename: Hajar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Saedi
authors.forename: Sumaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beegam
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuvaraju
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.forename: Badreldin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004642:Emodin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006400:Hematocrit; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D004642:Emodin