title: Atheroprotective effects of Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J. F. Macbr. in New Zealand rabbits fed with cholesterol-rich diet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J. F. Macbr. is used in Brazilian folk medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis and circulatory disorders, no study evaluating these effects has been conducted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible hypolipemiant and antiatherogenic activity of the ethanol soluble fraction obtained from C. carthagenensis (ES-CC) in an experimental atherosclerosis model using New Zealand (NZ) rabbits undergoing cholesterol-rich diet (CRD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dyslipidemia and atherogenesis were induced by administration of standard commercial diet increased of 1% cholesterol (CRD) for 8 weeks. ES-CC was orally administered at doses of 10, 30 and 100mg/kg, once daily for four weeks, starting from the 4th week of CRD diet. Body weight measurements were weekly carried out from the beginning of experiments for 8 weeks. Serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and their fractions (LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C) were measured at the beginning of experiments and at weeks four and eight. After euthanasia of rabbits, aorta segments (aortic arc, thoracic, abdominal and iliac segments) were macroscopically and microscopically evaluated and the intima and media layers of the arteries were measured. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of ES-CC and its influence on the functioning of hepatic antioxidant enzymes were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CRD induced dyslipidemia and major structural changes in the aortic wall. In addition, an increase in lipid peroxidation and a reduction of hepatic glutathione and serum nitrite levels were observed. Treatment with ES-CC was able to prevent the increase in TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C levels and triglycerides and promoted an increase in HDL-C levels in NZ rabbits. These effects were accompanied by a significant reduction in oxidative stress and modulation of the catalase and superoxide dismutase function. Moreover, the intima and media layers of the arterial segments were significantly reduced by ES-CC treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that ES-CC reduces serum lipids and hepatic oxidative stress when orally administered to NZ rabbits. In addition, it was able to prevent the development of CRD-induced atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lorena Neris
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Barboza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francislaine Aparecida Dos Reis
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lívero
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago Bruno Lima
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Prando
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cassia Lima
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Farmacologia e Toxicologia de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Paranaense, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emerson Luiz Botelho
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jane Manfron
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Budel
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lauro Mera
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Dalsenter
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Eletrofisiologia e Farmacologia Cardiovascular, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, km 12, P.O. Box 533, 79804-970 Dourados, MS, Brazil. Electronic address: arquimedesgasparotto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arquimedes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasparotto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D031562:Cuphea; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011817:Rabbits; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Anti-atherogenic; Antioxidant; Cuphea carthagenensis; Lipid-lowering