The Effect Of Piper Hancei Extract On Experimental Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis(AS), the major etiopathogenisis of coronary heart diseases(CHD), are responsible for the majority of deaths in the world.The morbidity and mortality caused by the heart and brain angiopathy as a result of AS is increasing.Therefore, it is very important to investigate the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and find the methods for preventing and treating coronary heart diseases. Numerous studies demonstrate that Chinese herbal medicine can attenuate atherosclerotic lesions by different mechanisms and it draws more concern.Piper hancei is a Chinese herb of Piperaceae. Previous researches showed that Piper hancei inhibited the platelet aggregation significantly, improved hemokinesis especially in aeteria coronaria,and its anti-inflammatory activity was significant. In xinqiao hospital of Third military medical university,a herb of Piper is used as a major composition in prescription to treat CHD and shows good effect.In this research we established the models of AS and investigated the effect of Piper hancei on AS and investigated the mechanisms. In vivo,the model was established by feeding with fat-rich diet.New Zealand white rabbits were divided into high lipid group, Piper hancei high dose group(100mg/kg), Piper hancei low dose group(50mg/kg) and control group.Extract was fed after 3 weeks. Serum lipid, aortic plaque, lesion of coronary artery , serum superoxide dismutase(SOD) and serum malondialdehyde(MDA) were measured after 12 weeks.In vitro, we investigated the release of TNFαand IL-1βby oxLDL-induced U937cells, and investigated the inhibition of Piper hancei extract by ELISA and investigated the effect of Piper hancei extract on IL-1βexpression by RT-PCR.In vivo,in high dose group,serum total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG) and low density lipoprotein(LDL) were lower than those in high lipid group(P<0.05). Both in high dose group and low dose group,aortic plaque and lesion of coronary artery were relieved,and serum SOD activity was heightened, serum MDA was decreased compared with high lipid group (P<0.05).