Anti-Atherosclerotic Activity of alpha-Pinene in High-Fat Diet-Induced Atherosclerosis Rat Model Via Hypolipemic, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-atherosclerotic effect of a-pinene against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerotic alterations in male Wistar rats. For 28 days, HFD was utilized to cause AS. Six rats were separated into four groups. Group I was the control. Group II was composed of a-pinene. Group III represents 28 days of atherosclerosis treatment with a high-fat diet. Group IV is administered a high-fat meal plus a-pinene (50 mg/kg, orally). Compared to the HFD-induced AS group, a-pinene dramatically improved the cardiac-related indicators and lipid profile. In addition, a-pinene dramatically improved the antioxidant state and decreased the levels of inflammatory markers. The lipid-regulating genes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-c (SREBP-c), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) are dramatically downregulated by a-pinene in HFD-induced AS rats. Experimental investigations indicate that a-pinene can slow the progression of AS by enhancing the lipid profile, restoring antioxidant capabilities, reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines, and regulating lipid metabolism.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of α-pinene against high-fat diet-induced atherosclerotic alterations in male Wistar rats. After being fed with a high-fat diet for 28 days, the rats were divided into four groups. Treatment with α-pinene significantly improved cardiac-related indicators, lipid profile, antioxidant state, and levels of inflammatory markers compared to the high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis group. Furthermore, α-pinene downregulated the expression of lipid-regulating genes in the rats with high-fat diet-induced atherosclerosis. Experimental findings suggest that α-pinene can slow down the progression of atherosclerosis by improving the lipid profile, restoring antioxidant capabilities, reducing inflammation, and regulating lipid metabolism.