Antiatherosclerotic Potential of Rhizoma Polygonati Polysaccharide in Hyperlipidemia-induced Atherosclerotic Hamsters

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the antiatherosclerotic effect of rhizoma polygonati polysaccharide. Adult golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were fed an atherosclerotic diet containing 1.5 mL olive oil, 8 mg (320 000 IU) vitamin D₂, and 40 mg cholesterol for 60 consecutive days to induce atherosclerosis. These hamsters then orally received either the reference drug simvastatin (5 mg/kg) or rhizoma polygonati polysaccharide (0.57 g/kg or 1.14 g/kg) once daily for 60 additional days before comparison to normal and atherosclerotic controls. Treatment with rhizoma polygonati polysaccharide resulted in significant improvement (p<0.01) in serum lipid profile, apolipoproteins, and endothelial dysfunction parameters. Histomorphological studies confirmed biochemical findings. The results showed that rhizoma polygonati polysaccharide has a protective effect against hyperlipidemia-induced atherosclerosis in hamsters.

Key words

rhizome polygonati polysaccharide - atherosclerosis - histopathology - malondialdehyde - tumor necrosis factor-α - thromboxane A2 - angiotensin II - endothelin - nitric oxide

• References

• 1 Lei Z, Yang G, Ye F et al. Study and clinical application of Polygonatum polysaccharide pharmacology. China Pharmacist 2012; 15: 114-116
• 2 Li Y, Deng H, Xiang D et al. The effect of Polygonatic rhizome on hyperlipoidemia and anti-atherosclerosis. Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2005; 13: 429-431
• 3 Wang Y, Wu X, Zhang G et al. Experimental study of Polygonatum polysaccharides on antioxidation of rats. China Modern Doctor 2011; 49: 6-11
• 4 Zhang B, Niu P, Li H et al. Endothelial progenitor cells: The new target of anti-atherosclerosis drugs. Journal of Central South University (Medical Sciences) 2011; 38: 307-312 http://dx.doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-7347.2013.03.015
• 5 Zimmermann M. Ethical guidelines for investigations of experimental pain in conscious animals. Pain 1983; 16: 109-110 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-3959(83)90201-4
• 6 Chen G, Yan S. Protective effects of polygonatum polysaccharide on vascular endothelial cell injury induced by hydrogen peroxide. Lishizhen Medicine and Materia Medica Research 2011; 22: 623-624
• 7 Lorkowska B, Bartus M, Franczyk M et al. Hypercholesterolemia does not alter endothelial function in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 2006; 317: 1019-1026 http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/jpet.105.098798
• 8 Schulman IH, Zhou MS, Raij L. Nitric oxide, angiotensin II, and reactive oxygen species in hypertension and atherogenesis. Current Hypertension Reports 2005; 7: 61-67 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11906-005-0056-6
• 9 Singhania N, Puri D, Madhu SV et al. Assessment of oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus with and without macroangiopathy. QJM 2008; 101: 449-455 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcn020
• 10 Libby P. Inflammation in atherosclerosis. Nature 2002; 420: 868-874 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature01323
• 11 Churg A, Dai J, Tai H et al. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is central to acute cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and connective tissue breakdown. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2002; 166: 849-854 http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200202-097oc
• 12 Tarighi B, Kurum T, Demir M et al. The effects of nebivolol on fibrinolytic parameters in mild and moderate hypertensive patients. Canadian Journal of Cardiology 2007; 23: 651-655 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0828-282x(07)70227-1
• 13 Amiri F, Virdis A, Neves MF et al. Endothelium-restricted overexpression of human endothelin-1 causes vascular remodeling and endothelial dysfunction. Circulation 2004; 110: 2233-2240 http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000144462.08345.b9
• 14 Belton OA, Duffy A, Toomey S et al. Cyclooxygenase isoforms and platelet vessel wall interactions in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse model of atherosclerosis. Circulation 2003; 108: 3017-3023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000104565.78013.ad