Marrubium vulgare extract inhibits human-LDL oxidation and enhances HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux in THP-1 macrophage

• Published in: Life sciences (1973) 2006-12, Vol.80 (2), p.105-112
• Main Authors: Berrougui, Hicham, Isabelle, Maxim, Cherki, Mounia, Khalil, Abdelouahed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - metabolism; Antioxidants; Cell Line; Cholesterol - metabolism; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Humans; Kinetics; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins, HDL - chemistry; Lipoproteins, HDL - metabolism; Lipoproteins, LDL - chemistry; Lipoproteins, LDL - metabolism; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; Marrubium - chemistry; Marrubium vulgare; Oxidation-Reduction; Plant Components, Aerial - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Reverse cholesterol transport
• ISSN: 0024-3205; 1879-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2006.08.040

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the beneficial properties of aqueous extracts of Marrubium vulgare (AEM) towards cardiovascular disease by protecting human-LDL against lipid peroxidation and promoting HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux. Human-LDL were oxidised by incubation with CuSO 4 in the presence of increased concentrations of AEM (0–100 μg/ml). LDL lipid peroxidation was evaluated by conjugated diene formation, vitamin E disappearance as well as LDL-electrophoretic mobility. HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux assay was carried out in human THP-1 macrophages. Incubation of LDL with AEM significantly prolonged the lag phase ( P = 0.014), lowered the progression rate of lipid peroxidation ( P = 0.004), reduced the disappearance of vitamin E and the electrophoretic mobility in a dose-dependent manner. Also, incubation of HDL with AEM significantly increased HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux from THP-1 macrophages implicating an independent ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) pathways. Our findings suggest that M. vulgare provides a source of natural antioxidants, which inhibit LDL oxidation and enhance reverse cholesterol transport and thus can prevent cardiovascular diseases development. These antioxidant properties increase the anti-atherogenic potential of HDL.