diospyros and Atherosclerosis

To investigate the efficacy of phospholipid complex of flavonoids from persimmon leaves (PLF-PC) on atherosclerosis, and to study its mechanism behind the action.. To clarify the constituents of the flavonoids from persimmon leaves (PLF), an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was established. To enhance the anti-atherosclerotic effect of PLF, a newly emerging approach based on the combination of phospholipid complexation technique was employed. PLF-PC was prepared by the solvent-evaporation method then characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Powder X-Ray Diffractometry and Scanning electron microscopy. A model of oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced injury on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was established to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of PLF-PC versus PLF. The levels of nitric oxide, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, intracellular adhesion molecule-1, reactive oxygen species, superoxide dismutase, tumor necrosis factor-αand nuclear factor-κB were observed assay kits.. A total of 31 compounds were identified in PLF. PLF-PC showed better anti-atherosclerotic power compared with PLF, moreover, enzyme linked immune-osorbent assay analysis showed that the PLF-PC may effect on endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis antioxidant-related mechanisms.. Our findings elucidated that PLF-PC significantly enhanced the PLF's efficacy on atherosclerosis.

Topics: Atherosclerosis; Diospyros; Endothelial Cells; Flavonoids; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Phospholipids; Plant Leaves

Diospyros (D.) lotus has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of D. lotus leaf water extract (DLE) on high‑fat diet (HFD)‑induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. The present study first investigated the effect of DLE on the lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) contents in 3T3‑L1 cells, and the results revealed that treatment with DLE suppressed the lipid accumulation and TG level. Subsequently, the anti‑obesity effects of DLE were investigated in vivo. Oral administration of DLE reduced the body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and liver and visceral fat weight in mice fed with a HFD. DLE administration in these mice also reduced TG, total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, insulin and leptin levels, as well as the atherogenic index. Furthermore, DLE administration decreased hepatic steatosis, as well as serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels in mice fed with HFD. It was further observed that treatment of the HFD‑fed mice with DLE prevented lipid peroxidation, while it recovered glutathione depletion and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In conclusion, the current study suggests that the anti‑obesity effect of DLE may provide positive insights as a potential functional food ingredient for the prevention of obesity.

Topics: 3T3-L1 Cells; Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Atherosclerosis; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Diet, High-Fat; Diospyros; Feeding Behavior; Insulin; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Leptin; Lipid Metabolism; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipids; Liver; Liver Function Tests; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Obesity; Oxidative Stress; Phytochemicals; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves

The total flavonoids from Persimmon leaves (PLF), extracted from the leaves of Diospyros kaki L. Dispryosl and Ebenaceae, is reported to possess many beneficial health effects. However, the oral bioavailability of PLF is relatively low due to its poor solubility. In the present study, the phospholipid complexes of total flavonoids from Persimmon leaves (PLF-PC) was prepared to enhance the oral bioavailability of PLF and to evaluate its antiatherosclerotic properties in atherosclerosis rats in comparison to PLF. A HPLC-MS method was developed and validated for the determination of quercetin and kaempferol in rats plasma to assess the oral bioavailability of PLF-PC. The effect of PLF (50mg/kg/d) and PLF-PC (equivalent to PLF 50mg/kg/d) on atherosclerosis rats induced by excessive administration of vitamin D (600,000IU/kg) and cholesterol (0.5g/kg/d) was assessed after orally administered for 4 weeks. The relative bioavailabilities of quercetin and kaempferol in PLF-PC relative to PLF were 242% and 337%, respectively. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in serum were measured by an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The morphological changes of aorta were observed with optical microscopy. According to the levels of biochemical parameters in serum and the morphological changes of aorta, PLF-PC showed better therapeutic efficacy compared to PLF. Thus, PLF-PC holds a promising potential for increasing the oral bioavailability of PLF. Moreover, PLF-PC exerts better therapeutic potential in the treatment of atherosclerotic disease than PLF.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Aorta; Aortic Diseases; Atherosclerosis; Biological Availability; Biomarkers; Chromatography, Liquid; Diospyros; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Compounding; Flavonoids; Hypolipidemic Agents; Lipids; Male; Mass Spectrometry; Phospholipids; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Vitamin D

We compared the effects of two dealcoholized wines, persimmon (P) and Merlot (M), in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.. Four groups of hamsters received a standard (ST) or an atherogenic diet (AT) for 12 weeks. AT animals received either dealcoholized persimmon wine (AT + P) or Merlot wine (AT + M) by gavage, while controls received water (AT and ST). Plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose and paraoxonase activity were measured. Oxidative stress was assessed by aortic O(2)°(-) production, and vascular function was evaluated in aortic rings. The atherogenic diet led to higher plasma triglycerides (246%), total cholesterol (142%), LDL-cholesterol (91%) and HDL-cholesterol (49%). Aortic production of O(2)°(-) also increased (207%) and vascular reactivity was modified with altered endothelial function as assessed by acetylcholine-dependent vasorelaxation. The two wines partially prevented these alterations, reducing O(2)°(-) production and improving vascular reactivity without altering endothelial function. There was no difference between the P and M groups, although the procyanidin composition of the two dealcoholized fractions differed significantly, and only dimer concentrations were similar.. These findings indicate that polyphenols are responsible, at least in part, for the antiatherogenic/antioxidant effects of wines.

Topics: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Cricetinae; Diet, Atherogenic; Diospyros; Endothelium, Vascular; Fruit; Hyperlipidemias; Male; Mesocricetus; Oxidative Stress; Polyphenols; Vitis; Wine