Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The present study analyzed the antioxidative properties of natural compounds from the root of the plant Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) toward LDL oxidation. Seven constituents, with antioxidant capacity were isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra. The isolated compounds were identified as the isoflavans Hispaglabridin A (1), Hispaglabridin B (4), Glabridin (3), and 4'-O-Methylglabridin (2), the two chalcones, isoprenylchalcone derivative (5) and Isoliquiritigenin (6), and the isoflavone, Formononetin (7). Among these compounds, Glabridin constituted the major amount in the crude extract (11.6%, w/w) as detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The antioxidative capacities of the isolated compounds (1-7) were tested against beta-carotene destruction and LDL oxidation. The isoflavans (1-4) at a concentration of 50 microM inhibited beta-carotene consumption, following 90 min of incubation at 50 degrees C, similar to the inhibitory effect of the whole licorice crude extract (at 16 mg/1). The chalcones (5 and 6) exhibited moderate inhibition and the isoflavone 7 was almost inactive, whereas vitamin E (50 microM) completely inhibited beta-carotene consumption. The inhibitory effect of the constituents 1-7, at a concentration of 30 microM on 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced LDL oxidation was determined by measuring the amount of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the amount of lipid peroxides. While compounds 1-6 exhibited high inhibitory activity, compound 7 and vitamin E were not active. A dose-dependent inhibitory effect of Glabridin, on the formation of cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide (CLOOH), in an AAPH-induced LDL oxidation system was also shown. Glabridin, at 5 or 40-60 microM concentration, inhibited the CLOOH formation by 62% and 90%, respectively. These results suggest that constituents 1-6 are very potent antioxidants toward LDL oxidation with Glabridin being the most abundant and potent antioxidant. As LDL oxidation is a key event in the formation of the early atherosclerotic lesion, the use of these natural antioxidants may be proven beneficial to attenuate atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Antioxidant constituents from licorice roots: isolation, structure elucidation and antioxidative capacity toward LDL oxidation. 919 93

The effect of the consumption of glabridin, an isoflavan isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) root, on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation was studied in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E deficient (E[o] mice) and was compared with that of the known flavonoids, quercetin and catechin. Glabridin inhibitory activity on in vitro oxidation of human LDL was also investigated by determining the formation of lipid peroxides and oxysterols and the consumption of LDL-associated lipophilic antioxidants. Determination of the extent of LDL oxidation by measuring the formation of thiobabituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) after 2 h of LDL incubation with CuSO4 (10 microM) or 2,2'-azobis (2-amidino-propane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) (5 mM), revealed that glabridin or quercetin consumption resulted in a 53 and 54% reduction in copper ion induced oxidation, respectively, and a 95 and 83% reduction in AAPH induced LDL oxidation, respectively. No inhibition was obtained with consumption of catechin. About 80% of glabridin was found to bind to the LDL human particle. In the in vitro oxidation of LDL induced by AAPH (5 mM), glabridin inhibited the formation of TBARS, lipid peroxides and cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxide (CLOOH) at all the concentrations tested (5-60 microM), while in oxidation induced by copper ions (10 microM), glabridin exhibited a pro-oxidant activity at concentrations lower than 20 microM, and a clear antioxidant activity at concentrations greater than 20 microM. Glabridin (30 microM) inhibited the formation of cholest-5-ene-3,7-diol (7-hydroxycholesterol), cholest-5-ene-3-ol-7-one (7-ketocholesterol) and cholestan-5,6-epoxy-3-ol (5,6-epoxycholesterol) after 6 h of AAPH induced LDL oxidation, by 55, 80 and 40%, respectively, and after 6 h of copper ion induced LDL oxidation, by 73, 94 and 52%, respectively. Glabridin also inhibited the consumption of beta-carotene and lycopene by 38 and 52%, respectively, after 0.5 h of LDL oxidation with AAPH, but failed to protect vitamin E. The in vivo and in vitro reduction of the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation obtained with glabridin, may be related to the absorption or binding of glabridin to the LDL particle and subsequent protection of LDL from oxidation by inhibiting the formation of lipid peroxides and oxysterols, and by protecting LDL associated carotenoids.
Atherosclerosis 1998 Mar
PMID:The antioxidative effects of the isoflavan glabridin on endogenous constituents of LDL during its oxidation. 956 36

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory that "kidneys give rise to marrow, and the brain is the sea of marrow" has been a guide for the clinical application of kidney, qi and blood tonics for prevention and treatment of dementia and improvement in memory. As low resistance end-organs, both the brain and the kidneys are subjected to blood flow of high volumes throughout the cardiac cycle. Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are two common causes of dementia, and it is increasingly recognized that many older adults with dementia have both AD and vascular pathologies. The underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood, but may involve atherosclerosis, vascular dysfunction, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, history of cardiac disease and possibly, kidney dysfuntion, leading to reduced erythropoietin production, anemia, brain energy deficit and slow excitotoxicity. During the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Jing-Yue used Qi Fu Yin (seven blessings decoction), comprising Panax ginseng, Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica polymorpha, Atractylodes macrocephala, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Ziziphus jujube, and Polygala tenuifolia to boost qi and blood circulation, strengthen the heart, and calm the spirit-skillfully linking heart, spleen, kidney, qi, blood and brain as a whole to treat age-related dementia. The purpose of this review is to outline TCM concepts for the treatment of dementia and illustrated with a historical prescription for the treatment of the condition, with the hope that this description may lead to advances in its management.
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PMID:Qi Fu Yin-a Ming Dynasty Prescription for the Treatment of Dementia. 2941 76