Ethanol extract of Pinus eldarica needle reduces atherosclerosis in ApoE‐deficient mice

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease initiated by vascular inflammation and monocyte recruitment in part. Pinus eldarica needle have been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. However, the effect of ethanolic extract of Pine eldarica needle on inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis is not known yet. Herein we evaluated whether ethanolic extract of Pine eldarica needle has a protective effect against atherosclerosis in experimental mice. 6 male ApoE –/– mice and 6 male control (C57BL/6J) mice were fed with 30% high‐cholesterol diet for 21 weeks. 6 of the ApoE –/– mice were orally administered pine needle extract(10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg body weight, every two days for 21 weeks). Pine needle extractshowed the suppressive effects on the expression of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM‐1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM‐1) and the serum levels of CCL2, CCL5, IL‐6 and TNF‐α in ApoE –/– mice. In addition,administration of pine needle extractattenuated the serum levels of oxLDL, HDL, LDH, triglyceride and total cholesterol. Furthermore, the serum levels of SREBP‐2, LOX‐1 and LXRs were inhibited by the pine needle extract. Collectively, these results suggest that of ethanolic extract of Pine eldarica needle might play a protective role against atherosclerosis.