Turmeric may decrease the risk of atherosclerosis. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Effects of Curcuma Longa on proliferation of cultured bovine smooth muscle cells and on expression of low density lipoprotein receptor in cells.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Aug;81(3):357-64. PMID: 11593527
Department of Biochemistry, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of aqueous turmeric extract (AqT) and serum of rats orally treated with ethanol extract of turmeric (SeT) on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and its effects on the expression of low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) antigen on the surface of smooth muscle cells.
METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the expression of LDL-R protein and thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay for the proliferation of VSMC were used in this study.
RESULTS: Both aqueous turmeric extract (AqT) and serum of rats orally treated with ethanol extract of turmeric (SeT) could inhibit 10% serum activated proliferation of VSMC. The inhibition shown in both experiments was dose-dependent with an inhibitory rate of 18.9% at 20 mg/ml AqT and rate of 20.1% at 10% SeT respectively. AqT up-regulated the expression of LDL-R protein with a highest rate at 5 mg/ml AqT in 3% lipoprotein deficient serum (LPDS). SeT did not show significant effect on the expression of LDL-R on the surface of VSMC.
CONCLUSION: The extracts of turmeric may be extended to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis (AS).
