Korean J Phys Anthropol.  1998 Jun;11(1):139-145.

Histological Study of the Effect of Flos Carthami on Rabbit Atherosclerosis Following Cholesterol Diet

• Park NJ
• Sohn NW
• Lee HI

Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Flos Carthami on the atherosclerosis in rabbit induced by cholesterol diet. 24 rabbits were divided by 3 groups; normal control group, CH group, and CH+FC group. The normal control group was fed with the normal pellet diet. The CH group was fed with pellet diet including 4% cholesterol, and the CH+FC group was fed with pellet diet including 4% cholesterol and 4% Flos Carthami dry -extract powder about 100g diet per 1 kg body weight per a day. After 12 weeks, animals were sacrificed and a piece of ascending aorta was collected. Tissue was sectioned 8 micrometer thickness and sections were stained with hematoxylin -eosin, alcian blue pH 2.5, aldehyde -fuchsin, and Van Gieson 's trichrome method. In CH+FC group, atheroma and mucoprotein formation on tunica intima of the ascending aorta was reduced, and lesion of elastic and collagen fibers in tunica media was also attenuated with respect to that in CH group. According to this result, it is considered that Flos Carthami has a preventing effect on atherosclerosis or a control effect on hypercholesterolemia. But distinct mechanism of action is still unclear.

Keyword

Flos Carthami; atherosclerosis; cholesterol; hypercholesterolemia

MeSH Terms

Alcian Blue
Animals
Aorta
Atherosclerosis*
Body Weight
Cholesterol*
Collagen
Diet*
Hematoxylin
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Hypercholesterolemia
Plaque, Atherosclerotic
Rabbits
Tunica Intima
Tunica Media
Alcian Blue
Cholesterol
Collagen
Hematoxylin