beta-elemene and Atherosclerosis

It is well known that beta-elemene is a broadly effective antitumor drug. In recent years, many studies suggested that beta-elemene also has potential value in the treatment of atherosclerosis and restenosis. In this paper, the effect of beta-elemene in inhibition of angiogenesis, inhibition of thrombus formation, improvement of hemorheology, protection against oxidative injuries, anti-inflammation and suppression of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are summarized and reviewed.

Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Atherosclerosis; Coronary Restenosis; Humans; Sesquiterpenes

β-Elemene is a major bioactive sesquiterpenoids compound isolated from the essential oils of Curcuma Wenyujin, a Chinese medicinal herb that treats tumor in clinics. However anti-atherosclerotic effects of β-elemene have not been fully investigated in vivo. The objective of this study is to further elucidate the anti-atherosclerotic activities of β-elemene in ApoE

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Apolipoproteins E; Atherosclerosis; Curcuma; Endothelium, Vascular; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Lipids; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Nitrates; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; Nitrites; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; Sesquiterpenes

The present study aimed at investigating the possible effects of β-elemene on the progression of atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. The rabbit atherosclerosis model was established by the combination of balloon angioplasty-induced endothelial injury and an atherogenic diet fed to the rabbits. New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (8/group): the normal control group (fed with normal chow diet), and three experimental groups, placebo group, atorvastatin group, and β-elemene group (received the atherogenic diet). After two weeks on the diet, the three experimental groups underwent balloon injury at right common carotid artery and were treated with drugs or placebo for five weeks. Serum lipids were measured. Carotid artery lesions were isolated for histological and immunohistochemical analysis. In vitro, RAW264.7 macrophages were pretreated with β-elemene and ox-LDL for 24 h and the viability of macrophages was assayed using the MTT method. TNF-α and IL-6 were also determined. Compared with the control group, the thickness of the atherosclerosis lesion in the placebo group was significantly increased; The thickness the drug treatment groups were significantly decreased, compared with that of the placebo group. The infiltration of macrophage was markedly reduced in the β-elemene group compared with that of the placebo group. β-elemene treatment also reduced the levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, compared with the placebo group. β-elemene decreased the TNF-α and IL-6 levels in vitro. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that β-elemene retarded the progression of atherosclerosis in vivo and in vitro, which may be related to the capacity of β-elemene to reduce the infiltration of macrophages and suppress inflammatory factors.

Topics: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Disease Models, Animal; Disease Progression; Humans; Interleukin-6; Macrophages; Male; Rabbits; Sesquiterpenes; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha