Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a multi-factorial disease frequently, causes morbidity and mortality in human beings. Scientists now believe that there is a good link between the inflammatory process and coronary atherosclerosis. A study was conducted to find out the anti- atherosclerosis effect of Amaranthus caudatus L. on rabbits, and was compared with lovastatin. Twenty five male New Zealand rabbits were randomly grouped into five and each were fed for 60 days with  a standard diet, standard diet and cholesterol, standard diet and  A. caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily), standard diet and A. caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily) with cholesterol, and standard diet with lovastatin (10 mg/kg) and cholesterol. At the 30^th and 60^th day of experiment, the biochemical factors were measured and the fatty streak formation was evaluated at the 60^th day.   Rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet and A. caudatus extract significantly decreased the cholesterol, LDL-C,  triglyceride, oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL), apo-lipoprotein B (apoB), CRP, atherogenic index (AI) and HDL-C and apo-lipoprotein A (apoA) increased. Lesion severity, in extract recipient group, significantly decreased. A. caudatus extract decreased the most important risk factors (the serum lipoproteins, apoB and Ox-LDL) of cardiovascular diseases and inflammatory factors prevented atherosclerosis and was more effective than lovastatin.

Key words: Atherosclerosis, lipid, Ox-LDL, CRP, Apolipoprotein, Amaranthus caudatus, Amaranthaceae.