Effect of Gundelia tournefortii L. on some cardiovascular risk factors in an animal model

Abstract

Introduction: There is no certain result in the field of industrial pharmacy approaching to find effective drugs in prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, like the control of lipid factors that are major risk factors of atherosclerosis. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Gundelia tournefortii on atherosclerosis biomarkers by measuring some biochemical factors and formation of fatty streaks. Methods: In this preclinical study, 20 male rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups as normal diet, cholesterol diet, normal diet supplemented with G. tournefortii extract, and cholesterol diet supplemented with G. tournefortii extract. Fasting blood samples were taken at the first and end of the study. Lipoproteins, Apo lipoproteins, fasting blood sugar (FBS), low density lipoproteins (LDL), factor VII and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. For each animal, histopathology of right coronary artery, left coronary artery and aorta were also studied. Results: Significant decrease in the fatty streak formation was observed in the group receiving cholesterol-rich diet supplemented with G. tournefortii. There were not any significant changes in measured biochemical factors except for significant reduction in factor VII when G. tournefortii was supplemented with high cholesterol diet. Conclusion: Gundelia tournefortii decreases atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic diet especially by decreasing coagulating factors like factor VII. Hence, it might be beneficial in prevention of atherosclerosis.