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Aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol‐fed rabbits
Author(s) -
Mosimann Ana Luiza Pamplona,
WilhelmFilho Danilo,
Da Silva Edson Luiz
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520260106
Subject(s) - tbars , cholesterol , thiobarbituric acid , antioxidant , aqueous extract , chemistry , aorta , endocrinology , high cholesterol , lesion , medicine , lipid peroxidation , food science , traditional medicine , biochemistry , surgery
Ilex paraguariensis aqueous extract (mate) is an antioxidant‐rich beverage widely consumed in South American countries. Here we questioned whether mate could reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in 1% cholesterol‐fed rabbits. New Zealand White male rabbits ( n = 32) were divided into four groups: control (C, n = 5), control‐mate (CM, n = 5), hypercholesterolemic (HC, n = 11) and hypercholesterolemic‐mate (HCM, n = 11). The daily water and mate extract consumption was approximately 400 ml. After 2 months of treatment, mate intake did not change the lipid profile or hepatic cholesterol content of control or hypercholesterolemic rabbits ( p < 0.05). However, the atherosclerotic lesion area was considerably smaller in the hypercholesterolemic‐mate group (HCM, 35.4% vs. HC, 60.1%; p <0.05). In addition, the aortic cholesterol content was around half that of the HC group (HCM, 36.8 vs. HC, 73.9 μ/mg of protein, p <0.05). In spite of this, the thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) in the atherosclerotic aorta, liver and serum, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in liver and aorta did not differ among groups ( p >0.05). The results showed that Ilex paraguariensis extract can inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in cholesterol‐fed rabbits, although it did not decrease the serum cholesterol or aortic TBARS and antioxidant enzymes.