Mulberry extract inhibits the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits

• Published in: Food chemistry 2005-08, Vol.91 (4), p.601-607
• Main Authors: Chen, Chang-Che, Liu, Li-Kaung, Hsu, Jeng-Dong, Huang, Hui-Pei, Yang, Mon-Yuan, Wang, Chau-Jong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal disease models; Anti-hyperlipidemia; antilipemic agents; antioxidant activity; antioxidants; aorta; atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis; Biological and medical sciences; blood serum; cholesterol; Cholesterol-fed rabbit; disease prevention; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; histopathology; hyperlipidemia; lard; lesions (animal); lipid peroxidation; low density lipoprotein; mulberries; Mulberry water extract; New Zealand White; plant extracts; rabbits; triacylglycerols
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2004.06.039

Mulberry ( Morus alba L.) fruit is used effectively in Chinese medicines against fever, to protect the liver and to lower blood pressure. Here, we report a water extract, MWE ( Mulberry water extract), which is designed to exhibit anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-atherosclerotic effects in rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis. New Zealand white rabbits were fed with a normal diet, high cholesterol (1.3%), lard oil (3%) diet (HCD) with or without 0.5 or 1% MWE for 10 weeks. The levels of triglyceride, cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were lower in the serum of rabbits fed HCD plus MWE than in the serum of rabbits fed HCD. Feeding MWE (0.5 or 1% in the diet) to rabbits significantly reduced severe atherosclerosis in the aorta by 42–63%. Histopathological examination showed that MWE reduced aortic atherosclerotic lesion in the blood vessel of rabbits. From previous data and present results, we suspect that MWE not only inhibits LDL-oxidation but also has a direct effect on the anti-hyperlipidemia in animals.