Abstract
The present investigation evaluates the capacity of Allium ursinum (wild garlic) leaf lyophilisate (WGLL; alliin content: 0.261%) to mitigate cardiovascular damage in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: (i) cholesterol-free rabbit chow (control); (ii) rabbit chow containing 2% cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic, HC); (iii) rabbit chow containing 2% cholesterol + 2% WGLL (hypercholesterolemic treated, HCT); for eight weeks. At the zero- and eight-week time points, echocardiographic measurements were made, along with the determination of basic serum parameters. Following the treatment period, after ischemia-reperfusion injury, hemodynamic parameters were measured using an isolated working heart model. Western blot analyses of heart tissue followed for evaluating protein expression and histochemical study for the atheroma status determination. WGLL treatment mediated increases in fractional shortening; right ventricular function; peak systolic velocity; tricuspidal annular systolic velocity in live animals; along with improved aortic and coronary flow. Western blot analysis revealed WGLL-associated increases in HO-1 protein and decreases in SOD-1 protein production. WGLL-associated decreases were observed in aortic atherosclerotic plaque coverage, plasma ApoB and the activity of LDH and CK (creatine kinase) in plasma. Plasma LDL was also significantly reduced. The results clearly demonstrate that WGLL has complex cardioprotective effects, suggesting future strategies for its use in prevention and therapy for atherosclerotic disorders.
Highlights
Wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) is a wild plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family
Outcomes of the present report demonstrate that wild garlic leaf lyophilisate improves cardiac functions in isolated hearts harvested from WGLL-treated rabbits
Impaired relaxation expressed as Deceleration time of the E wave (DecT) and efTthveendtriaicslteolwicasfuenvcatliuoanteodf btyhepelaekftmvietnratrliecalerlywdaisasetvoalilcuaintefldowbyveploecaiktym/piteraakl aetarrialyl diastolic inflow velocity (E/A) ratios was found in high cholesterol (HC) animals, while parameters measured in WGLL-treated animals reached normal values
Summary
Wild garlic (Allium ursinum L.) is a wild plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. Wild garlic contains high levels of polyphenolic compounds, in leaves and bulbs, which accounts substantially for the antioxidant and therapeutic properties of these sections of the plant [4,5,6]. It combines two additional health-enhancing properties: the plant has approximately 20-times the level of adenosine as common garlic (Allium sativum), plus it has significantly higher levels of ajoene, both of which combine to stabilize blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce excessive thrombocyte aggregation and improve physiological control of cholesterol metabolism [7]. Significantly lower levels of ACE activity were noted in the blood of animals fed for eight weeks with a standard rodent chow containing 2% pulverized whole leaf A. ursinum, versus untreated control rats [18]. * p < 0.05 in comparison to mean the values of the control group; ** p < 0.05 in comparison to the mean values of the HC group
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