Skip to main content

Effect of herbal polyphenols on atherogenic transcriptome

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry volume 278, pages 177–184 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The ancient Indian system of medicine supports the antiatherogenic properties of some herbs. The crosstalk amongst the genes coding for LDLR, LXRα, PPARs (α,γ), CD-36 and c-myc may be important in atherogenesis because these genes control lipid metabolism, cytokine production and cellular activity within the arterial wall. Hence, we attempted for the first time to explore whether or not the polyphenols extracted from medicinal herbs had any effect on the transcription of these genes. Normal human mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of polyphenols (and their HPLC purified sub-fractions) extracted from Green tea (Camellia sinensis), Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum). Transcriptional expression of these genes was measured by using RT-PCR and SCION IMAGE analysis software. These polyphenolic extracts were found to have the inherent capacity to inhibit the transcriptional expression of genes having direct involvement in atherogenic process. On the basis of these results, we propose for the first time that HPLC purified polyphenolic fraction IV of Tulsi may have a profound antiatherogenic effect. (Mol Cell Biochem 278: 177–184, 2005)

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Kaul D: Molecular link between cholesterol, cytokines and atherosclerosis. Mol Cell Biochem 219: 65–71, 2001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bravo L: Polyphenols: chemistry, dietary sources, metabolism and nutritional significance. Nutr Rev 56: 317–333, 1998

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Miketova P, Schram K, Whitney JL, Kerns EH, Valeie S, Timmermann BN, Volk KJ: Mass spectrometry of selected compounds of biological interest in green tea extracts. J Nat Prod 61: 461–467, 1998

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hofmann CS, Sonenshein GE: Green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3 gallate induces apoptosis of proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells via activation of p53. FASEB J 17: 702–704, 2003

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahmad N, Feyes DK, Anna-Lisa N, Agarwal R, Mukhtar H: Green tea constituent epigallocatechin-3-gallate and induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human carcinoma cells. J Natl Cancer Inst 89: 1881–1886, 1997

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Varma N, Varma S, Kaul D: Expression of receptor C k and SREBP genes in mononuclear cells from acute leukemic patients. Leukemia Res 24: 913–916, 2000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Chomczynski P, Sacchi N: Single step method of RNA isolation by acid guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction. Anal Biochem 162: 156–159, 1987

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Auboeuf D, Rieusset J, Fajas L, Vallier P, Frefing V, Riou JP, Staels B, Auwerx J, Laville M, Vidal H: Tissue distribution and quantification of the expression of mRNAs of peroxisome proliferation – activated receptors and liver X receptor-α in humans. No alteration in adipose tissue of obese and NIDDM patients. Diabetes 46: 1319–1327, 1997

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Xu D, Gruber A, Peterson C, Pisa P: Telomerase activity and the expression of telomerase components in acute myelogenous leukemia. Br J Haematol 102: 1367–1375, 1998

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kiaris H, Schally AV: Decrease in telomerase activity in U-87 MG human glioblastoma after treatment with an antagonist of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96: 226–231, 1999

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Draude G, Lorenz RL: TGF-β1 down regulates CD-36 and scavenger receptor A but upregulates LOX-1 in human macrophages. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 278: H1042–H1048, 2000

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee C, Chawla A, Urbiztondo N, Liao D, Boisvert WA, Evans RM: Transcriptional repression of atherogenic inflammation: Modulation by PPAR-δ. Science 302: 453–456, 2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Plutzky J: PPARs as therapeutic targets: reverse cardiology? Science 302: 406–407, 2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Kaul D: Cholesterol receptor mediated genomics in health and disease. Trends Mol Med 9: 442–449, 2003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ren F, Zhang S, Mitchell SH, Butler R, Young CYF: Tea polyphenols down-regulate the expression of the androgen receptor in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Oncogene 19: 1924–1932, 2000

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine & Biotechnology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

    Deepak Kaul, Akshay R. Shukla, Kavleen Sikand & Veena Dhawan

Authors
  1. Deepak Kaul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Akshay R. Shukla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kavleen Sikand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Veena Dhawan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Deepak Kaul.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kaul, D., Shukla, A.R., Sikand, K. et al. Effect of herbal polyphenols on atherogenic transcriptome. Mol Cell Biochem 278, 177–184 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-7497-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-005-7497-8

Key Word

  • atherogenesis
  • Green tea
  • herbal polyphenols
  • Neem
  • transcriptional expression of genes
  • Tulsi