Effect of Amirkabiria odorastissima mozaffarian on the development and progression of fatty streaks in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

New studies have introduced atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease. Different factors affect the development of inflammation that can be linked to free radicals, hypertention, diabetes mellitus, genetic changes, hypercholesterolemia and some of the microorganisms. Using anti-inflammatory drugs can be useful in preventing atherosclerosis. Finding drugs from natural sources and without side-effects can be useful. Amirkabiria odoratissima (umbelliferae) is from Iranian fl ora and is used traditionally as an anti-inflammatory drug. This study was designed to assess the effects of this plant on the development and progression of fatty streaks. Male rabbits were fed: (a) rabbit chow; (b) 1% cholesterol diet; (c) cholesterol diet supplemented with the plant; (d) normal diet supplemented with the plant. After 12 weeks, the animals were sacrificed and the aorta, right and left branches of coronary arteries were dissected and histologically processed. Before and after the end of the study, biochemical factors were measured. The amounts of cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were determined by enzymatic methods, quantitative CRP was determined by turbidimetric methods, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity were determined by speceterophotometric methods. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between the groups supplemented with herbal medicine and others (p < 0.05) in the mean grade of fatty streak of right and left coronary artery and aorta. At the end of the 12-week period cholesterol, LDL and CRP were significantly reduced in the groups which received herbal medicine (p < 0.05). The data suggests that Amirkabiria odoratissima Mozaffarian has beneficial effects to prevent development of fatty streak; however, further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms whereby this plant exerts its anti-atherosclerotic effects. Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.