Mechanisms Of Anti-atherosclerotic Effect Of Lactone Components From Ligusticum Chuanxiong Hort. And Z-ligustilide

The study investigated the anti-atherosclerotic effect of Lactone Components from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.(LLC) in Apo-E knockout atherosclerotic mice, and studied the protective effect of LLC and its major compound Z-ligustilide on human umbilical vein endothelial cells.(1) We selected the Apoe-/-mice to study the anti-atherosclerotic effect of Lactone Components from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.. HE staining was used to measure the area of the atherosclerotic plaque. Expression of adhesion molecules around the plaque was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results indicated that LLC could reduce the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, and inhibit the expression of adhesion molecules.(2) Protective effect of LLC on TNF-a induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells was studied. The results indicated that LLC could increase the viability of TNF-a injured HUVEC. LLC dose-dependently reduced the expression of ICAM-1and VCAM-1, whose mechanisms may due to the suppression of NF-κB in cell nucleus.(3) We further studied the protective effect of Z-ligustilide, the major compounds of LLC, on TNF-a induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Results showed that Z-ligustilide increased cell viability, decreased excretion of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-Selection and MCP-1. Western blot results indicated that Z-ligustilide could inhibit the expression of ICAM-1and NF-κB.Taken together, we have found Lactone Components from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. exerts anti-atherosclerotic effect in Apoe-/-mice. Z-ligustilide could protect HUVEC against TNF-a induced injury. Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibiting the expression of NF-KB-mediated adhesion molecules.