Monascus Adlay and Monacolin K Attenuates Arterial Thrombosis in Rats through the Inhibition of ICAM-1 and Oxidative Stress

Background/Aims: Monascus Acliay (MA) prepared from fungal fermentation of Monascus purpureus inoculating with cooked adlay contains high content of monakolin K(MK) and phenolic compounds. We explored whether MA and MK improve FeCI3 -induced arterial thrombosis in rats. Methods: The rats were divided into control, FeCI3- treated rat carotid artery occlusion (TTO), TTO determined with one-week MA, and TTO determined with one-week MK. We compared MA or MK effects on oxidative stress by chemiluminescence amplification and immunohistochemistry, TTO by a transonic system, NF kappa B. ICAM-1, endoplasmic reticulum stress CHOP and Nrf2 signaling by western blotting. Results: MA or MK efficiently depressed O-2(-), H2O2 and HOCl levels, platelet activation and aggregation and H2O2-enhanced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in the endothelial cells. FeCI3 significantly increased NF kappa B p65, 3-nitrotyrosine, CHOP and ICAM-1 expression, and decreased nuclear Nrf2 translocation and induces arterial thrombus formation. MA or MK pretreatment significantly elongated the level of FeCl3-induced TTO compared to TTO group, significantly decreased proinflammatory NF-kappa B/ICAM-1 signaling, endoplasmic reticulum stress CHOP expression and decreased thrombotic area. MA or MK significantly preserved nuclear Nrf2 translocation. MA and MK exerted a similar protective effect in attenuating thrombus formation. Conclusions: We suggest MA is better than MK to improve FeCl3-induced arterial thrombosis. (C) 2016 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel