Anti atherosclerotic effects of verjuice on hypocholesterolemic rabbits

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of verjuice on atherosclerosis risk factors in rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet for how long. Two New Zealand rabbits were used for this study which lasted 8 weeks. The rabbits were divided to four groups and treated as follows normal diet, cholesterol-rich diet, cholesterol-rich diet supplemented with 5 ml verjuice and cholesterol-rich diet supplemented with 10 ml verjuice. The low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), nitrite, nitrate; factor VII, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured before and after experimental feeding. In all groups, fatty streak formation in right and left coronary arteries were determined at the end of the study. Administration of low (5 ml) and high (10 ml) dose of verjuice significantly lowered the levels of fibrinogen (p < 0.05) and atherosclerotic lesion in right and left coronary arteries (p < 0.05). However, the serum level of nitrite and nitrate increased in both verjuice supplemented groups. Administration of 10 ml verjuice could significantly reduce the amount of MDA, ox-LDL, LDL-C (p < 0.05). No significant effects were noted for CRP and factor VII after consumption of both doses of verjuice. We conclude that verjuice could reduce some atherosclerotic risk factors in long term treatment.