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Anti-atherosclerotic Effects of Myrtenal in High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis in Rats

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Abstract

The major cause of death worldwide is atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease (ACD). Myrtenal was studied to determine control rats were given standard diets and a high-fat diet was given to AS model groups. Atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease (ACD) is globally attributed to being a predominant cause of mortality. While the beneficial effects of Myrtenal, the monoterpene from natural compounds, are increasingly being acknowledged, its anti-atherosclerotic activity has not been demonstrated clearly. The present study is proposed to determine the anti-atherosclerotic activity of Myrtenal in high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis (AS) rat models. Control groups were maintained with standard diets, the AS model rats were provided a high-fat diet, two of the experimental groups fed with a high-fat diet were treated with Myrtenal (50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg), and one experimental group on high-fat diet was treated with simvastatin (10 mg/kg) for 30 days. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were analyzed using kits. The lipoproteins and the lipid profile were estimated using an auto-analyzer. The atherogenic index and marker enzyme activities were also determined. Serum concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α), thromboxaneB2 (TXB2), endothelin (ET), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. The AS model groups indicated altered lipid profile, lipoprotein content, atherogenic index, calcium levels, HMG-CoA reductase activity, collagen level, and mild mineralization indicating atherosclerosis, while the AS-induced Myrtenal-treated groups demonstrated anti-atherogenic activity. The Myrtenal-treated groups exhibited a decreased TC, TG, and LDLc levels; increased HDLc levels; and a decline in the inflammatory cytokines such as CRP, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-18 when compared to the untreated AS rats. Furthermore, Myrtenal decreased ET, TXB2, and 6-keto-PGF1α levels indicating its anti-atherosclerotic activity. The study results thus indicate that Myrtenal modulates the lipid metabolic pathway to exert its anti-atherosclerotic activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics, Yantai Yantaishan Hospital, No. 91 Jiefang Road, Yantai City, 264000, Shandong Province, China

    Liyan Yu

  2. Department of Cardiology, Liaocheng Third People’s Hospital, Liaocheng City, 252000, Shandong, China

    Hongguang Liu

  3. Department of Functional Examination, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No.105, Jiefang road, Lixia District, Jinan City, 250013, Shandong Province, China

    Xiaoxia Ma

  4. Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al-Kharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Vidya Devanathadesikan Seshadri

  5. Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, No. 324, Jingwuweiqi Road, Jinan City, 250021, Shandong Province, China

    Xuan Gao

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  1. Liyan Yu
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Liyan Yu, Hongguang Liu, Xiaoxia Ma, Vidya Devanathadesikan Seshadri, and Xuan Gao contributed equally.

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Correspondence to Xuan Gao.

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Yu, L., Liu, H., Ma, X. et al. Anti-atherosclerotic Effects of Myrtenal in High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis in Rats. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 194, 5717–5733 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-04044-x

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