Amelioration of atherosclerosis by tanshinone IIA in hyperlipidemic rabbits through attenuation of oxidative stress

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 674; no. 2-3; pp. 359 - 364
• Main Authors: Chen, Wenying, Tang, Futian, Xie, Bailu, Chen, Shaorui, Huang, Heqing, Liu, Peiqing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.01.2012
• Subjects: Animals; antioxidants; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Aorta, Thoracic - drug effects; Aorta, Thoracic - metabolism; Aorta, Thoracic - pathology; atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - complications; Atherosclerosis - drug therapy; Atherosclerosis - metabolism; Atherosclerosis - pathology; blood lipids; blood serum; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol - metabolism; diet; Disease Progression; Diterpenes, Abietane - pharmacology; Diterpenes, Abietane - therapeutic use; Glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Hyperlipidemias - complications; Lipoproteins, LDL - blood; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; low density lipoprotein; Male; malondialdehyde; Malondialdehyde - blood; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; oral administration; oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidized low density lipoprotein; pharmacology; Rabbits; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Tanshinone IIA; Glutathione peroxidase; Tanshinone IIA; Oxidized low density lipoprotein; Superoxide dismutase; Atherosclerosis
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.10.040

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in atherogenesis, which raises the possibility of using antioxidants to ameliorate atherosclerosis. In the present study, we aim to determine the effects of tanshinone IIA (TSIIA) on atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits. After feeding the rabbits on a high-lipid diet for 90days, they developed severe atherosclerotic lesions both morphologically and biochemically and exhibited significantly elevated serum lipid, malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) levels. Oral administration of TSIIA (3–30mg/kg) greatly inhibited the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. In TSIIA-treated rabbits, there was a marked reduction in serum and aortic lipid peroxide product content, represented by MDA and oxLDL, whereas enhanced activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were observed. However, TSIIA had no effect on serum lipid profiles. These results suggest that TSIIA attenuates oxidative stress by decreasing oxLDL production and enhancing activities of SOD and GPx, which might be contributed to the amelioration of atherosclerosis.