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Ursane Triterpenoids Inhibit Atherosclerosis and Xanthoma in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice

  • Basic Pharmacology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Introduction

In order to determine the mechanism of triterpenes, a class of secondary metabolites in plants, in modulating progression of vascular atherosclerotic lesions, we isolated three ursane triterpenoids (euscaphic acid, tormentic acid and 2α-hydroxyursolic acid) from aerial part of Salvia miltirrhiza Bge. and fed LDLr−/− mice the isolated compounds at a dose of 10 mg/kg p.o. for 24 weeks.

Materials and methods

The treated mice were raised with a cholesterol-enriched (1.25%) diet. Implying serum and aorta MCP-1 analysis, we found that all mice treated with the compounds exhibited a significant reduction of whole body and vascular inflammation.

Results

The reduction of macrophage cells’ number in aortic atherosclerotic lesions suggests that triterpenes treatment results in the development of a more stable plaque phenotype. Analysis of the structure-activity relationships demonstrates that compounds with a β-orientated hydrogen-bond forming group at C-3 exhibit more potent anti-atherogenic effect than the α-counterpart on the development of atherosclerosis and xanthoma. However, the biological activities of the compounds are significantly reduced when they have C-19 hydrogen-bonds.

Conclusion

These Results suggest that down-regulation of MCP-1 is the main mechanism for antiatherogenic activity of triterpenes and MCP-1 might play important roles in the development of atherosclerosis and xanthoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chinese Materia Medica Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Qin Zhang & Qiang Wang

  2. Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Zai Chang

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  1. Qin Zhang
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  2. Zai Chang
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  3. Qiang Wang
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Correspondence to Qiang Wang.

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Zhang, Q., Chang, Z. & Wang, Q. Ursane Triterpenoids Inhibit Atherosclerosis and Xanthoma in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 20, 349–357 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-006-0509-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-006-0509-4

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