"Pistacia lentiscus L." reduces the infarct size in normal fed anesthetized rabbits and possess antiatheromatic and hypolipidemic activity in cholesterol fed rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate in vivo the potential anti-ischemic and antiatheromatic activity of Chios Mastic gum, the resin of the trunk and branches of "Pistacia lentiscus var. chia", used since antiquity in traditional Greek medicine. The main compounds of mastic are triterpenes, possessing phytosterol-like structures. This led to the hypothesis that mastic and particularly its neutral fraction, enriched in phytosterol-like compounds, possess antiatheromatic activities.


METHODS
Total Mastic Extract without Polymer (TMEWP) and the neutral mastic fraction (NMF) were administered orally for 6 weeks to normal fed and to cholesterol fed rabbits in the form of sunflower oil solution. All the animals were randomly divided into 6 groups, anesthetized and subjected to 30min ischemia of the heart, followed by 3h reperfusion: At the end of the experiment the area at risk and the infarct zone were determined with the aid of fluorescent particles and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, and small segments of the ascending and descending aorta and the heart were taken for histologic examination. Blood samples were collected at different time points of ischemia and reperfusion, for malondialdehyde (MDA) evaluation as an index of lipid peroxidation, for total and LDL cholesterol determination and for evaluation of oxidized LDL.


RESULTS
In the normal fed animals the NMF and the TMEWP reduced significantly the infarct size, while in the hypercholesterolemic rabbits both treatments were ineffective. Atherosclerosis was detected in all the animals fed cholesterol enriched diet in the form of subintimal accumulation of lipids and foamy macrophages. There was no detection of atherosclerosis in Groups treated with TMEWP and NMF, which both reduced the total cholesterol levels by 47 and 88% respectively, whilst had not effect on LDL oxidation. TMEWP and NMF reduced the MDA concentration in normal fed rabbits, but had no effect on MDA levels in cholesterol fed animals. TMEWP and NMPF reduce the infarct size in normal animals and possess significant antiatheromatic and hypolipidemic activities in rabbits fed cholesterol enriched diet.
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: jandread@pharm.uoa.gr.
Ioanna
I
Andreadou
Department of Pharmacognocy, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Sofia
S
Mitakou
Department of Pharmacognocy, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Sotirios
S
Paraschos
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis
P
Efentakis
Department of Pharmacognocy, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Prokopios
P
Magiatis
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece.
Loukas
L
Kaklamanis
Department of Pharmacognocy, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Maria
M
Halabalaki
Department of Pharmacognocy, School of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Leandros
L
Skaltsounis
Second University Department of Cardiology, Medical School, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Rimini 1, 124 62 Athens, Greece.
Efstathios K
EK
Iliodromitis
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006115:Greece; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D000069997:Mastic Resin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D010840:Phytosterols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012116:Resins, Plant; D014315:Triterpenes
Atheromatosis; Lipid peroxidation; Mastic gum; Myocardial infarction; Pistacia lentiscus