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DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1185539
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Suppression of Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia by Scutellarin in Rats
Publication History
received Nov. 10, 2008
revised February 18, 2009
accepted February 25, 2009
Publication Date:
06 April 2009 (online)
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Abstract
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis. A major active ingredient, scutellarin, from the plant Erigeron breviscapus was investigated for its hypocholesterolemic and atheroscleroprotective effects (30 and 100 mg/kg/day, p. o.). The serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol) was monitored and aortic functions in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with normal diet, atherogenic diet or atherogenic diet plus oral administration of either scutellarin or simvastatin (a positive control) were tested. It was found that scutellarin markedly attenuated the increased serum total cholesterol induced by atherogenic diet. It caused a significant reduction in the atherogenic index. In addition, scutellarin administration could significantly enhance acetylcholine-induced nitrate/nitrite production, increase the gene expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and improve acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat isolated aortas. These data revealed that scutellarin could reduce the atherogenic properties of dietary cholesterol in rats. However, whether scutellarin's atheroscleroprotective potential targets endothelial function directly or indirectly on its antioxidative activity remains to be determined.
Key words
scutellarin - atherosclerosis - hypercholesterolemia - vasorelaxation - nitric oxide - cholesterol