Atherosclerosis antiatherosclerotic

Many studies have shown that ginseng has a protective effect on the development of atherosclerosis that may lead to myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular diseases. The preventive effects on cardiovascular diseases of ginseng include its potential antihypertensive and antiatherosclerotic effects. Ginsenosides are likely to be responsible for some of these effects as they have been shown to have inhibitory effects on platelet aggregation and to suppress thrombin formation as well as an effect on blood vessel contraction. 

Prasad, K. 2005. Hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic effect of flax lignan complex isolated from flaxseed. Atherosclerosis 179, 269-275. 

The clinical manifestations of PAD are associated with reduction in functional capacity and quality of life, but because of the systemic nature of the atherosclerotic process there is a strong association with coronary and carotid artery disease. Consequently, patients with PAD have an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic events [myocardial infarction (Ml), ischemic stroke, and death] compared to the general population (4,5). In addition, these cardiovascular ischemic events are more frequent than ischemic limb events in any lower extremity PAD cohort, whether individuals present without symptoms or with atypical leg pain, classic claudication, or critical limb ischemia (6). Therefore, aggressive treatment of known risk factors for progression of atherosclerosis is warranted. In addition to tobacco cessation, encouragement of daily exercise and use of a low cholesterol, low salt diet, PAD patients should be offered therapies to reduce lipid levels, control blood pressure, control blood glucose in patients with diabetes mellitus, and offer other effective antiatherosclerotic strategies. A recent position paper... 

The antiatherosclerotic effect of proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extracts was examined in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The proanthocyanidin-rich extracts [0.1% and 1% in diets (w/w)] did not change the serum lipid profile, but reduced the level of the cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides (ChE-OOH) induced by 2,2/-azo-bis(2-amidinopropane-dihydrochloride (AAPH), the aortic malonaldehyde (MDA) content and severe atherosclerosis. The immuno-histochemical analysis revealed a decrease in the number of the oxidized LDL-positive macrophage-derived foam cells on the atherosclerotic lesions of the aorta in the rabbits fed the proanthocyanidin-rich extract. When the proanthocyanidin-rich extract was administered orally to the rats, proantho-cyanidin was detected in the plasma. In an in vitro experiment using human plasma, the addition of the proanthocyanidin-rich extract to the plasma inhibited the oxidation of cholesteryl linoleate in the LDL, but not in the LDL isolated after the plasma and the extract were incubated in advance. From these results, proanthocyanidins of the major polyphenols in red wine might trap ROSs in the plasma and interstitial fluid of the arterial wall, and consequently display antiatherosclerotic activity by inhibiting the oxidation of the LDL [92]. 

Koscielny J, KluBendorf D, Latza R, et al. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum. Atherosclerosis 1999 144 237-249. 

In a review on the microcirculatory aspects of atherogenesis, Shimamoto [427] advocated cHnical experiments with antikinin antiatherosclerotic drugs such as pyridinolcarbamate in patients with atherosclerosis obliterans where blood flow and the ischemic disorders of the affected arteries can be observed directly. Treatment of 67 patients suffering from atherosclerosis obliterans with a daily dose of one gram of CXC resulted in a definite curative effect [428]. 

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