Key result
Treatment with ethanol extract of Arctium lappa seeds (200 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced plasma triglycerides and ameliorated endothelial dysfunction in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet.
Why the study?
Does ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. ameliorate endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet?
Does ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. ameliorate endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet?
Absolute Event Rate: 27.2% vs 67.2%
p-value: p=<0.001
Ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. seeds ameliorates high fat/cholesterol diet-induced vascular dysfunction by protecting vascular relaxation and suppressing vascular inflammation in a rat model.
EAL shows no clinical role in vascular disease; leaves open whether benefits extend to humans, requiring prospective trials.
BACKGROUND: Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae), burdock, is a medicinal plant that is popularly used for treating hypertension, gout, hepatitis, and other inflammatory disorders. This study was performed to test the effect of ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. (EAL) seeds on vascular reactivity and inflammatory factors in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet (HFCD). METHOD: EAL-I (100 mg·kg-1/day), EAL-II (200 mg·kg-1/day), and fluvastatin (3 mg·kg-1/day) groups initially received HFCD alone for 8 weeks, with EAL supplementation provided during the final 6 weeks. RESULTS: Treatment with low or high doses of EAL markedly attenuated plasma levels of triglycerides and augmented plasma levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL markedly reduced impairments of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aortic rings. Furthermore, chronic treatment with EAL significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and maintained smooth and flexible intimal endothelial layers in HFCD-fed rats. Chronic treatment with EAL suppressed upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, and E-selectin in the aorta. Chronic treatment with EAL also suppressed increases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression. These results suggested that EAL can inhibit HFCD-induced vascular inflammation in the rat model. CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that EAL ameliorates HFCD-induced vascular dysfunction through protection of vascular relaxation and suppression of vascular inflammation.
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Lee et al. (2012) studied High fat/cholesterol diet-induced vascular dysfunction (n=40). Ethanol extract of Arctium lappa L. (EAL) seeds vs. High fat/cholesterol diet alone was evaluated on Plasma triglyceride levels (mg/dL) (p=<0.001). Treatment with ethanol extract of Arctium lappa seeds (200 mg/kg/day) significantly reduced plasma triglycerides and ameliorated endothelial dysfunction in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet.
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