Hawthorn Extract Alleviates Atherosclerosis through Regulating Inflammation and Apoptosis Related Factors: An Experimental Study

Objective: To determine the effects of hawthorn extract on serum lipid levels, pathological changes in aortic atherosclerosis plaque, inflammatory factors, and apoptosis-related protein and mRNA expression in apolipoprotein E gene knockout(ApoE~(-/-)) mice. Methods: Thirty-six ApoE~(-/-) mice were fed with a high-fat diet starting at the age of 8 weeks. Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups by a random number table including model group, hawthorn extract group, and simvastatin group, 12 mice in each group. Twelve 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed a basic diet and served as control. The mice in the control and model groups were administered 0.2 mL saline daily, the mice in the hawthorn extract and simvastatin groups were administered with 50 mg/kg hawthorn extract or 5 mg/kg simvastatin daily for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, plasma lipids including total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) were determined by an enzymatic assay. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions were observed by light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. Plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), adiponectin(APN), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Protein and mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in the aorta were assessed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qR T-PCR), respectively. Results: Compared to the control group, the plasma levels of TC, TG and LDL-C were significantly increased and HDL-C were significantly decreased in the model group(P0.01). Compared to the model group, treatment with hawthorn extract significantly decreased the plasma levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C and increased the plasma level of HDL-C in ApoE~(-/-)mice(P0.01). The levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, and hs-CRP in the model group were significantly increased and APN was significantly decreased compared with the control group(P0.01). Compared to the model group, treatment with hawthorn extract decreased the levels of MCP-1, IL-1β, and hs-CRP and increased the APN level(P0.01). Compared to the control group, the protein and mR NA expression of Bax in the model group were significantly increased and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased(P0.01). Hawthorn extract also reduced the protein and mR NA expression of Bax and increased the Bcl-2 expression in the aorta(P0.01). Conclusion: Hawthorn extract has anti-atherosclerosis and stabilizing unstable plaque effects. The mechanism may be related to the inflammation and apoptosis signaling pathways.     

Red Yeast Rice Increases Excretion of Bile Acids in Hamsters

Objective To investigate the hypocholesterolemic activity of red yeast rice （RYR） and its underlying mechanism. Methods Three groups of hamsters were fed either the control diet or one of the two experimental diets containing by weight 0.1% RYR （0.1RYR） or 0.3% RYR （0.3RYR）. Blood （0.5 mL） was collected from the retro-orbital sinus into a heparinized capillary tube at the end of week 0, 3, and 6. Plasma lipoproteins were measured using enzymatic kits, while fecal neutral and acidic sterols were quantified using a gas-liquid chromatography. Results Plasma total cholesterol was reduced by 12% in 0.1RYR group and by 18% in 0.3RYR group compared with the control value. Similarly, plasma triacylglycerol was decreased by 11% in 0.1RYR group and by 24% in 0.3RYR group. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that RYR had no effect on sterol regulatory element binding protein 2, fiver X receptor, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-CoA reductase, LDL receptor, and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase. HPLC analysis confirmed that RYR contained 0.88% monacolin K. It was recently found that RYR supplementation increased excretion of fecal acidic sterols by 34 folds compared with the conlrol value. Conclusion Hypocholesterolemic activity of RYR is mediated at least partially by enhancement of acidic sterol excretion.     

No Additional Cholesterol-Lowering Effect Observed in the Combined Treatment of Red Yeast Rice and Lactobacillus Casei in Hyperlipidemic Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective

To observe the effect of combining red yeast rice and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) in lowering cholesterol in patients with primary hyperlipidemia, the later has also been shown to remove cholesterol in in vitro studies.

Methods

A double-blind clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effect of the combination of red yeast rice and L. casei. Sixty patients with primary hyperlipidemia were recruited and randomized equally to either the treatment group (red yeast rice + L. casei) or the control group (red yeast rice + placebo). One red yeast rice capsule and two L. casei capsules were taken twice a day. The treatment lasted for 8 weeks, with an extended follow-up period of 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was a difference of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level at week 8.

Results

At week 8, the LDL-C serum level in both groups was lower than that at baseline, with a decrease of 33.85±26.66 mg/dL in the treatment group and 38.11±30.90 mg/dL in the control group; however, there was no statistical difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The total cholesterol was also lower than the baseline in both groups, yet without a statistical difference between the two groups. The only statistically signifificant difference between the two groups was the average diastolic pressure at week 12, which dropped by 2.67 mm Hg in the treatment group and increased by 4.43 mm Hg in the placebo group (P<0.05). The antihypertensive activity may be associated with L. casei. Red yeast rice can signifificantly reduce LDL-C, total cholesterol and triglyceride.

Conclusion

The combination of red yeast rice and L. casei did not have an additional effect on lipid profifiles.

     

中药红曲复方制剂降脂作用的实验研究

[目的]探讨中药红曲复方制剂对降低高脂血症模型大鼠血脂水平的疗效。[方法]采用高脂饲料喂养SD大鼠建立预防性高脂血症模型,将实验大鼠分成阴性对照组、模型对照组、阳性对照组、低剂量组、中剂量组和高剂量组。连续灌胃给药30d,观察中药红曲复方制剂对高脂血症大鼠血清甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)的影响。[结果]与阴性对照组比较,高脂饲料连续喂养30d后,模型对照组大鼠血清TG、TC和LDL-C显著升高(P0.01);与模型对照组比较,给药30d后,阳性对照组TG、TC和LDL-C显著降低(P0.05);低剂量组大鼠血清TG显著降低(P0.05),中剂量组和高剂量组血清TG、TC和LDL-C显著地降低(P0.01);各剂量组大鼠血清HDL-C无统计学差异(P0.05)。[结论 ]中药红曲复方制剂可有效控制并降低血脂水平。     

牛蒡子苷元调控CTRP6对七氟烷麻醉后大鼠炎症反应和认知功能障碍的影响

目的:研究牛蒡子苷元对七氟烷麻醉后大鼠炎症反应和认知功能障碍的影响,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法:雄性SPF级SD大鼠50只,随机分为对照组、七氟烷组及牛蒡子苷元低(5 mg·kg^-1)、中(10 mg·kg^-1)、高(20 mg·kg^-1)剂量组,每组10只。除对照组外,其余组大鼠采用6%七氟烷麻醉。牛蒡子苷元各剂量组大鼠在麻醉前腹腔注射200μL牛蒡子苷元溶液,对照组和七氟烷组大鼠腹腔注射等体积二甲基亚砜(dimethyl sulfoxide, DMSO)。干预48 h后,Morris水迷宫实验检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力;酶联免疫吸附测定实验(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA)检测血清炎症因子白细胞介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)、IL-1β和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)的水平;苏木精-伊红(hematoxylin-eosin, HE)染色观察海马组织病理学改变;原位缺口末端标记法(terminal-deox...     

基于IL-6、JAK2/STAT3信号通路探讨复方当归注射液在缺血性卒中炎性反应中的作用

目的基于IL-6和JAK2/STAT3信号通路,探讨复方当归注射液在缺血性卒中炎性反应中的作用。方法将大鼠随机分为空白对照组、假手术组和造模组。采用线栓法建立大脑中动脉栓塞致局灶性缺血损伤模型,造模成功后,再将造模大鼠随机分为模型组、复方当归注射液组和依达拉奉组,各组给予相应药物干预7 d,于末次给药24 h后处死取脑组织,采用TTC染色法观察各组大鼠的脑梗死情况;采用HE染色法观察各组大鼠脑组织病理学情况;采用ELISA法检测各组大鼠血浆中IL-6的含量;采用Western Blot法检测各组大鼠脑组织中p-JAK2、JAK2、p-STAT3、STAT3的表达情况。结果复方当归注射液组可缩小缺血性卒中大鼠的脑梗死区域,减轻脑组织神经元的异常形态变化;复方当归注射液组IL-6的含量及p-JAK2/JAK2和p-STAT3/STAT3水平均低于模型组(P<0.01)。结论复方当归注射液可通过降低缺血性卒中大鼠IL-6及p-JAK2/JAK2、p-STAT3/STAT3的表达,抑制炎性反应,发挥神经保护作用。