Ethereal Extract of Pepper: Preventing Atherosclerosis and Left Ventricle Remodeling in LDL Receptor Knockout Mice

• Published in: Preventive nutrition and food science 2021, 26(1), , pp.51-57
• Main Authors: Dos Santos, Leandro, Maciel, Letícia de Oliveira, Gracia, Erika Kristina Incerpi, Soares, Evelise Aline, Sarto, Danielle Aparecida Quintino Silva, Barauna, Valério Garrone, Estrela, Heder Frank Gianotto, Rocha, Carollayne Mendonça, Carvalho, Maria das Graças de Souza, Boas, Brígida Monteiro Vilas, Garcia, José Antônio Dias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; 식품과학
• ISSN: 2287-1098; 2287-8602
• DOI: 10.3746/pnf.2021.26.1.51

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In this study we compared the effects of oral treatment with red pepper ethereal extracts or simvastatin on dyslipidemia, left ventricle remodeling, and atherosclerotic lesions of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor knockout mice (LDLr ) fed a hyperlipidic diet. Forty 3-month-old male mice were distributed into four groups: control (C; animals fed a standard diet), HL (ani-mals fed a hyperlipidic diet), and HL+P or HL+S (animals fed a hyperlipidic diet plus red pepper ethereal extracts or simvastatin, respectively). After 60 days, treatment with both red pepper ethereal extracts and simvastatin prevented dyslipidemia, atherosclerotic lesion progression, and left ventricle hypertrophy. Our results suggest a cardioprotective effect of red pepper ethereal extracts in LDLr mice, which is comparable to the well-known effects of simvastatin.