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Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. Decreases Athero-Susceptibility in Lipoproteins and the Aorta of Guinea Pigs Fed High Fat Diet

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Lipids

Abstract

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (COT), a traditional Chinese herb, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In this study, we examined the protective effect of COT on the initiation of atherosclerosis induced by high fat diet and explored the underlying mechanisms. We established guinea pig models of hyperlipidemia and treated them with three dosages of COT or 20 mg/kg/d simvastatin (a positive control drug) for 8 weeks. Plasma lipid analysis indicated that COT decreased total cholesterol (TC), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) and apolipoprotein E (apoE) levels and increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level. The analysis of the hepatic gene involving cholesterol metabolism by quantitative real-time PCR revealed that COT upregulated the mRNA abundance of LDL receptor (LDL-R), scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1), cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase A1 (CYP7A1) and the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR). Oil red O staining showed COT significantly reduced lipid deposition in the arterial wall. Moreover, ELISA assay revealed COT lowered the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in plasma. Meanwhile, the level of Nitric oxide (NO) in plasma was increased by COT. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed the expression of CD68 and active NF-kB p65 proteins in the arterial wall was decreased by COT. The content of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) in plasma were determined and the data indicated COT suppressed oxidative stress reaction. These results reveal that administration of COT decreases athero-susceptibility through lowering plasma lipid, attenuating inflammation, and suppressing oxidative stress in guinea pig fed high fat diet.

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Abbreviations

COT:

Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb

AS:

Atherosclerosis

TC:

Total cholesterol

TG:

Triglyceride

HDL-C:

High density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDL-C:

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol

apoB:

Apolipoprotein B

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

IL:

Interleukin

CRP:

C-reactive protein

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

LDL-R:

LDL receptor

SR-B1:

Scavenger receptor Class B Type 1

HMGCR:

3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase

CYP7A1:

Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase A1

NO:

Nitric oxide

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the financial donations from the Taishan scholar foundation of Shandong Province (200867) and the Natural Science Foundations of China (30971098 and 81070247), and the Special Research Funding of Taishan Medical University(2008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Atherosclerosis in Universities of Shandong and Institute of Atherosclerosis, Taishan Medical University, 271000, Shandong, China

    Ying Zhang, Yanhong Si, Shutong Yao, Nana Yang, Guohua Song, Hui Sang, Dandan Zu, Xin Xu & Shucun Qin

  2. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, 271000, Shandong, China

    Ying Zhang & Jianhua Wang

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  1. Ying Zhang
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  2. Yanhong Si
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  10. Shucun Qin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shucun Qin.

Additional information

Y. Zhang, Y. Si and S. Yao contributed equally to this study.

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Zhang, Y., Si, Y., Yao, S. et al. Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. Decreases Athero-Susceptibility in Lipoproteins and the Aorta of Guinea Pigs Fed High Fat Diet. Lipids 48, 619–631 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3773-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-013-3773-7

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