• BMB Reports
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.652-657
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• 2020

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a traditional medicinal plant widely used in Asian countries for its pharmacological activities (e.g., amelioration of cardiovascular diseases). In this study, we investigated the anti-atherosclerotic activity of raw danshen root extract prepared using high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 550 MPa for 5 min and hot water extraction. This method was useful for elimination of bacteria from cultured danshen plants and for better extraction yield of active principles. The HHP-treated danshen extract (HDE) inhibited proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and induced autophagy that was assessed by LC3 conversion and p62 degradation. HDE suppressed foam cell formation in oxLDL-induced RAW264.7 macrophages; lysosomal activity simultaneously increased, measured by acridine orange staining. HDE also reduced atherosclerotic plaque development in vivo in apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE-/-) mice fed a high cholesterol diet. Taken together, these results indicated that HDE exhibited anti-atherosclerotic activity via autophagy induction.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the association of dietary behaviors, serum lipid profiles according to the progression of angiographically evaluated atherosclerosis. The subjects were 32 male patients aged 59-80 yrs living in the Daegu area who underwent initial angiography for their lower extremities. We classified the subjects into two groups according to the seriousness of iliac lesions based on angiographic results : Group I (lower lesion group) and Group II (higher lesion group). Dietary habits were evaluated by 10-item questionnaires. Daily food intake of each subject was assessed by the 24-hour recall method. There were no significant differences in serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels between the two groups. The food habit score of Group II was significantly lower than that of Group I (P<0.001). Group II showed significantly lower dietary habit scores in the consumption of fish and bean product (P<0.001), seaweed product (P<0.01), and salt use (P<0.001) than those of Group I. Dietary intake of vitamin C was significantly lower in Group II (P<0.01). Our results indicate that the more serious of atherosclerotic lesions the patients had, the poorer dietary habits they exhibited. Therefore, medical nutrition therapy for atherosclerotic patients should emphasize maintaining a balanced diet by consuming more fishes, beans, and seaweed as well as by reducing salt intake.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.13-19
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• 2016

Objectives : The present study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Allium tuberosum (AT) extract on atherosclerosis in LDL receptor knockout (LDLr KO) mouse fed western diet.Methods : The AT was extracted 70% ethanol. The experimental groups were divided with four groups of LDLr KO mice, one group fed a normal diet and the others fed a Western diets for 8weeks. Two Western diet groups were orally administered AT extract at dosage of 100 and 300 mg/kg body weight. The body weight and food intake were measured every day. We measured levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Glucose in serum. Also, effect of AT extract performed using H&E staining.Results : The AT treatment groups showed decrease in body weight and food efficiency in comparison with control group. Blood biochemistry parameters such as TG, TC, LDL, and glucose levels were increased in control group, while AT treatment groups were reduced. Also, the increased levels of ALT and AST were improved by AT extract. We confirmed that the weights of liver, kidney, subcutaneous fat, epididymal fat, kidney leaf fat, and intraabdominal fat were change in LDLr KO mice treated AT extract. In addition, histopathological changes in liver and aorta were similar to normal group.Conclusions : Based on these results, the AT extract is considered to make prevention of atherosclerosis through reduction and functional improvement of the liver and vascular endothelial cells in the body fat accumulation and lipid content in LDLr ko mouse model.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.383-388
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• 2005

This study reports that the effect of Mori radicis cortex, Mulberry root-bark, on the lipid peroxidation products formation in the liver, blood serum and atherosclerosis of hypercholesterolemia rabbits fed Mulberry root-bark for eight weeks. The rabbits were permitted a fixed quantity to extract of Mulberry root-bark mixed hypercholesterol fodder. The lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly diminished. Total cholesterol in serum worthily decreased. Also, triglyceride and high density lipoproteins (HDLs) increased after feeding Mori radicis cortex. Besides, thicky atheromatous plaque on the wall of aorta of rabbits fed on hypercholesterol diet were markedly attenuated by Mulberry root-bark extract. These results support and substantiate the extract of Mulberry root-bark as protection against lipid peroxidation in the liver, blood serum and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.407-419
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• 2002

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall characterized by progressive accumulation of lipids, cells, and extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases(TIMPS) contribute to vascular matrix remodeling in atherosclerosis, and some cytokines may play role in the synthesis or activation of MMPs or TIMPs. Material and Method： We produced experimental atherosclerotic plaques in 9 rabbits by atherogenic hypercholesterol diet for 12 weeks, and 10 other rabbits were used as control group with standard laboratory chow, At that time, 19 rabbits were sacrificed and aorta, coronary arteries and blood specimens were prepared. The expressions of MMP-9, TIMP-2 and interleukin(IL)-18, and the bioactivity of IL-6 were investigated with H&E stain, immunohistochemical stain, immunoblotting(Western blot analysis), and bioassay. Result： Serum cholesterol in the experimental group increased up to 1258$\pm$262 mg/dL(control group： 41$\pm$7 mg/dL). All experimental group showed well-developed atherosclerotic plaques in aorta and coronary artery. The expression of MMP-9 in aorta and coronary artery of the experimental group showed significant increase than that of the control group by immunohistochemistry. Among the experimental group, complicated lesions with intimal rupture or complete luminal occlusion, demonstrated stronger expression of MMP-9. Interestingly, there was no difference in expression of TIMP-2 between the experimental and the control group. These findings were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The bioassay revealed significant up-regulation of serum bioactivity of IL-6 in the experimental group(4819.60$\pm$2021.25 IU/$m\ell$) compared to that of IL-6 in the control group(27.20 $\pm$ 12.19 IU/$m\ell$). IL-18 was expressed in all atherosclerotic plaques, whereas little or no expression was detected in the control group. Conclusion： The increased MMP-9 expression along with the unchanged TIMP-2 expression seem to be contributory factors in extracellular matrix degradation in atherosclerosis. Focal overexpression of MMP-9 may promote plaque destabilization and cause complications of atherosclerotic plaques such as thrombosis with/without acute coronary syndrome. Elevation of IL-6 and IL-18 may be more than just markers of atherosclerosis but actual participants in lesion development. Identification of critical regulatory pathway is important to improve the understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of atherosclerosis and may open the way for novel therapeutic strategies.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.10-15
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• 2005

An increase in serum cholesterol is directly associated with high incidences of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and atherosclerosis. Serum lipid profiles are highly dependent on dietary fatty acids and age. The purpose of this study was to examine the age-related effects of polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratios and antioxidant supplementation under the control of the dietary peroxidizability index (PI) value on serum lipid profiles in rats. While the PI level of dietary fatty acids was controlled at 81.22, the P/S ratios of fatty acids were 0.38 and 4.81 (LP and HP). The diets were supplemented with a vitamin E 1000 mg/kg diet and a selenium 2.5 mg/kg diet (LPS and HPS). Female Sprague-Dawley rats ages 3 weeks (young) and 16 weeks (adult) were fed four different experimental diets for 4 weeks. The serum triglyceride concentration of LPS was significantly higher in young rats than in adult rats. The total-cholesterol concentration of LP and HPS were higher in young rats than in adult rats. The high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration of LP, LPS and HP was higher in adult rats than in young rats. The low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration was higher in young rats than in adult rats. T-C/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were much higher in young rats than in adult rats. In conclusion, P/S ratios and antioxidant supplementation did not affect T-C/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios as risk factors of CVD in adult rats when we controlled the PI value in the diet Probably, the invisible and confounding effects of dietary PI value implicate the beneficial roles of dietary P/S ratios and antioxidants in CVD. Accordingly, controlling the dietary PI value may be advantageous to lower the risk of CVD in adult rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.95-106
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• 1995

The effects of various n-6/n-3 ratios(about 2, 4, 6, 8) of dietary fatty acids on various lipid levels and prostaglandin production were studied at the constant P/S ratio (1.5-1.6) in young (5 weeks old) and adult(8 months old) Sprague-Dawley rats using palm oil, safflower oil and sardine oil. The concentration of serum cholesterol tended to increase with the increasing n-6/n-3 ratio. The tendency of HDL-cholesterol levels was similar to serum cholesterol levels. These were not apparent differences between young and adults rats. Serum triglyceride levels increased according to increasing n-6/n-3 ratio in young rats. These were generally high in the adult rats compared with the young rats. Though liver cholesterol level tended to increase according to the increasing n-6/n-3 ratio in the young rats. The liver triglyceride level did not change according to the n-6/n-3 ratio. However, these levels were apparently higher in the adult than in the young rats. The fatty acid compositions of phosphatidylcholine(PC) were similar in serum and liver. The arachidonate/linoleate ratios in tissue PC were influenced by the n-6/n-3 ratio. They tended to be lower in the adult rats compared with the young rats. It was suggested that the activity of $\Delta$6-desturase was decreased by aging. Production of platelet thromboxane A2(TXA2)and aortic prostacyclin(PGI2) was not apparently influenced with n-6/n-3 ratio. Whereas the ratio of TXA2/PGI2 was the lowest value at 3.8 of n-6/n-3 ratio, expecially in the young rats. Thus this ratio seemed to be a desirable level to protect atherosclerosis. These results indicate that the lipid level and prostaglandin production were influenced not only by n-6/n-3 ratio(under constant P/S ratio) but by aging, particulary triglycerde level and arachidonic/linoleic acid ratio.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.945-953
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• 2006

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major factors causing the atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and a well-documented modifiable risk factor for stroke, especially of the ischemic type. Constipation is the condition of being unable to empty the bowels frequently enough or effectively. However, it is usually temporary and not a serious disease. Salicornia herbacea is a sea coast plant that grows on the western and southern coastal beaches and salt flats of the Korean peninsula. Belonging to Chenopodiaceae by biological classification. Salicornia herbacea is not known from research except that it contains plenty of minerals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with Hamcho-hwanand to observe changes in total cholesterol (T-Chol) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglyceride (TG) and constipation. After treatment, total cholesterol decreased from 273mg/dl to 235mg/dl. Triglyceride decreased from 201mg/dl to 126mg/dl. HDL cholesterol increased from 30mg/dl to 40mg/dl. Constipation changed for the better. These results support a role for oriental medical therapy in treating hyperlipidemia and constipation. Further case studies of herbal treatment of this ailment are needed.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2013

In atherosclerosis, blood vessels become sensitive to vessel-constricting agents leading to reduced control in the event of abrupt blood pressure changes. Mulberry trees (Morus alba L., MA) have been claimed to contain various bioactive principles that could possibly prevent atherosclerosis development caused by high cholesterol consumption. In order to examine whether MA feeding can prevent the sensitization of blood vessels, MA leaves were fed to rats for 8 weeks and pressor responses to vasoconstricting agents were assessed. Animals were pithed before blood pressure assessments to eliminate reflex compensation in vessel responses. Feeding diets containing high levels of cholesterol led to potentiated pressor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, or to injection of norepinephrine, phenylephrine, angiotensin II and vasopressin in pithed rats. These potentiated pressor responses were prevented in rats fed MA leaf-containing diets at 2 or 10% levels. It was also examined in anesthetized non-pithed rats whether similar cholestrol-related sensitization and MA prevention could be observed. However, high cholesterol-induced sensitization in pressor responses were not observed, suggesting that destruction of central cardiovascular control by pithing must have revealed the sensitization responses. It was concluded that MA leaves seem to be active in preventing abnormal blood vessel reactivity caused by hypercholesterolemia.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.79-90
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• 2009

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Puerariae Radix Herbal-acupuncture at $GB_{34}$(Yangleungcheon) on hyperlipidemia in rats. The author made several items to compare body-weight of the rats, weight of its liver, serum, enzymes in liver as well as the histological changes in each group. Results : 1. In the Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture group, there was a significant improvement of the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, atherosclerosis index and phospholipid in serum as compared with the control group but there was no significant difference as compared with the NP or saline group. 2. There was a significant improvement of HMG-CoA reductase activity and catalase level in Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture group as compare with the control group, the NP group and the saline group. 3. The pathohistological changes of liver and aorta was suppressed in the Puerariae Radix herbalacupuncture group than the control group. Conclusions : From the above results, it is suggested that Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture at GB34 has a therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia.