Conclusions and clinical relevance
Strong hypolipidemic effects of aqTAE and attenuation of these signature atherogenic biomarkers using proteomics highlights the fact that aqTAE may be useful in the prevention and management of atherosclerosis.
Purpose
The present study evaluates the effect of an aqueous extract of Terminalia arjuna (aqTAE) on protein expression in aortic plaques of hypercholesterolemic rabbits using a proteomic approach. Experimental design: Thirty male New Zealand rabbits (n = 6) were employed as Gp1 (stock diet); Gp2 (high-fat diet [HFD]); Gp3 (stock diet + aqTAE); Gp4 (HFD + aqTAE); and Gp5 (HFD + atorvastatin) and followed for 6 months. Protein lysates of aortic tissues were separated by 2DE and proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS.
Results
Serum lipids were found to be significantly increased by an HFD and reduced by aqTAE both at 3 and 6 months (Gp4 vs. Gp2; p < 0.05). Total 79 spots were differentially expressed, among which 60 individual proteins were identified, 31 grouped as atherosclerosis-related proteins and 29 classified as others. aqTAE significantly attenuated the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor α, cyclooxygenase-2, MMP-9, HSP60, ICAM-5, Endothelin-3, Vimentin, Protein S100-A9 besides others. Many of the observed proteins are known to be consistently associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, plaque rupture, and immune imbalance. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Strong hypolipidemic effects of aqTAE and attenuation of these signature atherogenic biomarkers using proteomics highlights the fact that aqTAE may be useful in the prevention and management of atherosclerosis.