The extract of Ilex kudingcha inhibits atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice by suppressing cholesterol accumulation in macrophages.

Yukio Fujiwara, Shota Okada, Keisuke Uryu, Isafumi Maru, Yoshihiro Komohara

Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry 2021 Sep 22

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It was previously reported that oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, triterpenoid compounds occurring in Ilex kudingcha, ameliorate hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice. In the present study, we investigated whether I. kudingcha extract exerts similar inhibitory effects on cholesterol accumulation in human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs) and atherogenesis in apoE-deficient mice. I. kudingcha extract significantly inhibited cholesterol ester (CE) accumulation induced by acetylated LDL (acetyl-LDL) in HMDMs; however, it generated no effect on cell viability in HMDMs. I. kudingcha extract also suppressed CE accumulation in acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase (ACAT)-overexpressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, thereby indicating that it inhibits ACAT activity. Furthermore, the oral administration of I. kudingcha extract to apoE-deficient mice significantly decreased the levels of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, sLOX-1, as well as the regions of atherosclerotic lesions in the mice. Our study reveals crucial new-found evidence that I. kudingcha extract significantly inhibits ACAT activity and suppresses atherogenesis. © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.

Citation

Yukio Fujiwara, Shota Okada, Keisuke Uryu, Isafumi Maru, Yoshihiro Komohara. The extract of Ilex kudingcha inhibits atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient mice by suppressing cholesterol accumulation in macrophages. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry. 2021 Sep 22;85(10):2177-2184