curcumin and Arteriosclerosis

Inhibiting the onset of arteriosclerotic disease, which has been increasing due to the westernized diet and aging, is a significant social challenge. Curcumin, a type of polyphenol, has anti-oxidative effects and anti-inflammatory action and is expected to treat and to have prophylactic effects on different diseases. In this study, we examined the effects of long-term administration of curcumin on vascular aging and chronic inflammation-the causes of arteriosclerotic disease. Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed with high fat diet (HFD) or 0.1% curcumin-mixed HFD (HFD + Cu) until 80 weeks old (

Topics: Aging; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antioxidants; Aorta; Arteriosclerosis; Curcumin; Diet, High-Fat; Inflammation; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oxidative Stress; Sirtuin 1

Protections of endothelial integrity by elimination of certain risk have proven to be effective in maintaining hemostasis and in slowing the progress of the cardiovascular disease. Indigenous drugs are the natural source of protection against these disorders, which can be used more effectively by the knowledge of their active ingredients as well as by their mechanism of action. Most prominent among these drugs are garlic, [Alium sativum L., Family: Liliaceae, Bulbs] and turmeric [Curcuma longa L., Family: Zingiberaceae, Rhizomes]; commonly used Indian traditional spices. In the present study, we examined the atheroscleroprotective potential of diet supplementation of garlic and turmeric by measuring serum lipid profile, changes in cardiovascular parameters i.e. arterial blood pressure, electrocardiogram and heart rate. We further tried to elucidate the mechanism of restoration of endothelial function and the role of endothelium-derived factors mainly, nitric oxide (NO) and cycloxygenase derived contracting factors. A notable restoration of arterial blood pressure was seen in animals on garlic and turmeric supplemented diet. Animals on supplemented diet showed a significantly enhanced vasorelaxant response to adenosine, acetylcholine, isoproterenol and contractile effect of 5-hyderoxytryptamine was significantly attenuated. Inhibition of these responses by L-NMMA was smaller in tissues from herbal treated animals. Incubation of tissues with L-arginine (10(-5) M) resulted in a significant reversal of L-NMMA induced inhibition of endothelium-mediated relaxation, which appeared to be pronounced in rings from animals supplemented with herbs as compared to hypercholesterolemic animals. Addition of indomethacin (10(-5) M) augmented the relaxation in all the groups of animals. The present study demonstrated that garlic and turmeric are potent vasorelaxants as well as reduce the atherogenic properties of cholesterol. Whether combination of these vasodilators in cardiovascular disorders with increased peripheral vascular resistance remains to be determined.

Topics: Animals; Aorta; Arginine; Arteriosclerosis; Blood Pressure; Body Weight; Curcuma; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Endothelium, Vascular; Female; Garlic; Lipids; Male; Muscle Relaxation; Nitric Oxide; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilator Agents

Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) is a newly identified receptor for oxidized LDL that is expressed by vascular cells. LOX-1 is upregulated in aortas of diabetic rats and thus may contribute to the pathogenesis of human diabetic atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the regulation of human monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) LOX-1 expression by high glucose and the role of LOX-1 in glucose-induced foam cell formation. Incubation of human MDMs with glucose (5.6 to 30 mmol/L) enhanced, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, LOX-1 gene and protein expression. Induction of LOX-1 gene expression by high glucose was abolished by antioxidants, protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and activated protein-1 (AP-1) inhibitors. In human MDMs cultured with high glucose, increased expression of PKCbeta2 and enhanced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 was observed. Activation of these kinases was inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and by the PKCbeta inhibitor LY379196. High glucose also enhanced the binding of nuclear proteins extracted from human MDMs to the NF-kappaB and AP-1 regulatory elements of the LOX-1 gene promoter. This effect was abrogated by NAC and PKC/MAPK inhibitors. Finally, high glucose induced human macrophage-derived foam cell formation through a LOX-1-dependent pathway. Overall, these results demonstrate that high glucose concentrations enhance LOX-1 expression in human MDMs and that this effect is associated with foam cell formation. Pilot data showing that MDMs of patients with type 2 diabetes overexpress LOX-1 support the relevance of this work to human diabetic atherosclerosis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adult; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents; Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Cells, Cultured; Curcumin; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Flavonoids; Foam Cells; Gene Expression Regulation; Glucose; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Macrophages; Male; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mesylates; Middle Aged; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; NF-kappa B; Nitriles; Phosphorylation; Protein Kinase C; Protein Kinase C beta; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Pyrroles; Receptors, LDL; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Sulfones; Transcription Factor AP-1; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

So-called antioxidant strategies have not been shown convincingly to be effective in increasing life spans of animals. Thus, the general consensus of experimental gerontology in the last century was that the only reproducible means of prolonging survivals of animals is the calorie restriction paradigm. As a challenge against this dogma, we attempted to examine the effect of two potent antioxidants, one tetrahydrocurcumin (a biotransformed metabolite of curcumin contained in turmeric of Indian curry) and the other green tea polyphenols.

Topics: Aging; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Curcumin; Flavonoids; Longevity; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Phenols; Polyphenols; Tea

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an oral supplementation with a Curcuma longa ethanol and aqueous extract on the susceptibility to oxidation of cellular and subcellular membranes affected in the atherosclerotic process, such as erythrocyte membranes and liver microsomes, in rabbits fed with a high-fat diet.. Twenty-four male rabbits were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group T was treated with a turmeric hydroalcoholic extract (1.66 mg/kg of body weight) dissolved in a hydroalcoholic mixture vehicle (7:2), and group C (control): received a curcuma-free hydroalcoholic solution (7:2). All rabbits had access ad libitum to 150 g/d of an experimental diet rich in cholesterol and lard to provoke an atherosclerotic process. Erythrocyte membranes and liver microsomes were isolated, and the levels of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were measured after oxidation induction.. The oxidation of erythrocyte membranes in group T was significantly lower than that in group C, mainly by 30 d (P < 0.05). Levels of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver microsomes also were significantly lower in group T than in group C (P < 0.05).. The results of this study indicated that oral administration of a nutritional dose of C. longa extracts reduces the susceptibility to oxidation of erythrocyte and liver microsome membranes in vitro and may contribute to the prevention of effects caused by a diet high in fat and cholesterol in blood and liver during the development of atherosclerosis.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Curcuma; Diet, Atherogenic; Erythrocyte Membrane; Hydrogen Peroxide; Male; Microsomes, Liver; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; Time Factors

This study evaluates the effect of a Curcuma longa extract on the development of experimental atherosclerosis (fatty streak) in rabbits and its interaction with other plasmatic antioxidants.. Two experimental groups of male New Zealand White rabbits, a control group and a curcuma-extract (CU) group, were fed an atherogenic diet. Additionally, the CU group received an oral curcuma hydroalcoholic extract. Six animals from each experimental group were killed after 10, 20, and 30 days. Compared with the CU group, the control group showed significantly higher plasma lipid peroxide at all experimental times (10, 20, and 30 days) and significantly lower alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q levels at 20 and 30 days. Histological results for the fatty streak lesions revealed damage in the thoracic and abdominal aorta that was significantly lower in the CU group than in the control group at 30 days.. Supplementation with Curcuma longa reduces oxidative stress and attenuates the development of fatty streaks in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antioxidants; Aortic Diseases; Arteriosclerosis; Coenzymes; Coumaric Acids; Curcuma; Curcumin; Diarylheptanoids; Diet, Atherogenic; Dietary Supplements; Lipid Peroxides; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Oxidative Stress; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Ubiquinone; Vitamin A

The oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Curcumin is a yellow pigment obtained from rhizomes of Curcuma longa and is commonly used as a spice and food colouring. Curcumin and turmeric extracts have several pharmacological effects including antitumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiinfectious activities although the precise mechanisms involved remain to be elicited. We evaluated the effect of an ethanol-aqueous extract obtained from rhizomes of C. longa on LDL oxidation susceptibility and plasma lipids in atherosclerotic rabbits. A total of 18 rabbits were fed for 7 weeks on a diet containing 95.7% standard chow, 3% lard and 1. 3% cholesterol, to induce atherosclerosis. The rabbits were divided into groups, two of which were also orally treated with turmeric extract at doses of 1.66 (group A) and 3.2 (group B) mg/kg body weight, respectively. A third group (group C) acted as a control. Plasma and LDL lipid composition, plasma alpha-tocopherol, plasma retinol, LDL TBARS, LDL lipid hydroperoxides and analysis of aortic atherosclerotic lesions were assayed. The low but not the high dosage decreased the susceptibility of LDL to lipid peroxidation. Both doses had lower levels of total plasma cholesterol than the control group. Moreover, the lower dosage had lower levels of cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides in LDL than the 3.2-mg dosage. In conclusion, the use of this extract could be useful in the management of cardiovascular disease in which atherosclerosis is important.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents; Antioxidants; Arteriosclerosis; Curcuma; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Random Allocation; Reference Values