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Chronic treatment with bark infusion from Croton cajucara lowers plasma triglyceride levels in genetic hyperlipidemic mice
- Source :
- Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology. 82(6)
- Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Aqueous infusion and preparations containing dehydrocrotonin (DHC) and essential oil from Croton cajucara bark were tested for plasma lipid-lowering effects in genetically modified hyperlipidemic mice. Two mouse models were tested: 1) primary hypercholesterolemia resulting from the LDL-receptor gene knockout, and 2) combined hyperlipidemia resulting from crosses of LDL-receptor knockout mice with transgenic mice overexpressing apolipo protein (apo) CIII and cholesteryl ester-transfer protein. Mice treated with bark infusion, DHC, essential oil, or placebos for 25 days showed no signals of toxicity as judged by biochemical tests for liver and kidney functions. The bark infusion reduced triglyceride plasma levels by 40%, while essential oil and DHC had no significant effects on plasma lipid levels. The bark infusion treatment promoted a redistribution of cholesterol among the lipoprotein fractions in combined hyperlipidemic mice. There was a marked reduction in the VLDL fraction and an increase in the HDL fraction, in such a way that the (VLDL + LDL)/HDL ratio was reduced by half. The bark infusion treatment did not modify cholesterol distribution in hypercholesterolemic mice. In conclusion, C. cajucara bark infusion reduced plasma triglycerides levels and promoted a redistribution of cholesterol among lipoproteins in genetically combined hyperlipidemic mice. These changes modify risk factors for the development of atherosclerotic diseases.Key words: hyperlipidemia, transgenic mice, Croton cajucara, dehydrocrotonin, cholesterol.
- Subjects :
- Physiology
Hyperlipidemias
Mice, Transgenic
Pharmacology
law.invention
chemistry.chemical_compound
Mice
law
Plasma triglyceride
Physiology (medical)
Animals
Croton cajucara
Essential oil
Triglycerides
Mice, Knockout
Triglyceride
Chemistry
Cholesterol
Plant Extracts
General Medicine
Genetically modified organism
Receptors, LDL
visual_art
visual_art.visual_art_medium
Dehydrocrotonin
Plant Bark
lipids (amino acids, peptides, and proteins)
Bark
Croton
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00084212
- Volume :
- 82
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a705d31277ed3a7748616cfbb81c4615