Ursolic acid protects diabetic mice against monocyte dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Accelerated atherosclerosis is a major diabetic complication initiated by the enhanced recruitment of monocytes into the vasculature. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of the phytonutrients ursolic acid (UA) and resveratrol (RES) in preventing monocyte recruitment and accelerated atherosclerosis.

Methods and results

Dietary supplementation with either RES or UA (0.2%) protected against accelerated atherosclerosis induced by streptozotocin in high-fat diet-fed LDL receptor-deficient mice. However, mice that received dietary UA for 11 weeks were significantly better protected and showed a 53% reduction in lesion formation while mice fed a RES-supplemented diet showed only a 31% reduction in lesion size. Importantly, UA was also significantly more effect

SUBMITTER: Ullevig SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3199329 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature