The Anti-Atherosclerotic Effect of Prosopis Farcta is Associated with the Inhibition of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1

Abstract

This study evaluated the anti-atherosclerosis effect of aqueous extract and polysaccharide-enriched fraction of Prosopis farcta on adhesion and inflammatory cascades in vascular endothelial cells and related molecular mechanisms. Cellular toxicities of LPS, plant extract and polysaccharide-enriched fraction were analyzed in vitro using the MTT method. The ROS accumulation, mRNA expression of ICAM1 and VCAM1, and COX activity were measured in HUVEC cells. These results revealed a new underlying mechanism for anti-atherosclerosis effect of P. farcta and polysaccharide-enriched fraction by attenuating inflammatory cascade mediated by COX expression, modulating expression of cell-adhesion molecules including VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, and diminishing oxidative stress agents.