Leonurus sibiricus Herb Extract Suppresses Oxidative Stress and Ameliorates Hypercholesterolemia in C57BL/6 Mice and TNF-α Induced Expression of Adhesion Molecules and Lectin-Like Oxidized LDL Receptor-1 in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

In Leonurus sibiricus herb extract (LHE)-supplemented animals, plasma cholesterol decreased and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol increased, resulting in a lowered atherogenic index. The plasma trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, levels of hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and protein carbonyl values decreased significantly in LHE-supplemented mice (p < 0.05), whereas the hepatic antioxidant indicators were all significantly elevated (p < 0.05). In human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha, LHE significantly suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species, LOX-1, and adhesion molecules. LHE supplementation may modulate the lipoprotein composition and attenuate oxidative stress by elevated antioxidant processes, thus suppressing the activation of inflammatory mediators. This is a possible mechanism of the anti-atherogenic effect.