Interdependence of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Squalene–Implication for Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been recognized as the leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 31% of global mortality. Among the risk factors of CVD, hyperlipidemia has been established as the most potent risk factor. Statins, a class of drug that reduces lower-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), are the preferred medical treatment. However, due to the development of statin-associated muscle symptoms, statins are associated with patients’ discontinuation and nonadherence. Other statin-induced side effects, such as hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal upset, all contribute to patients choosing alternative medicines. Squalene (SQ), an unsaturated hydrocarbon naturally synthesized in plants and animals, could become the alternative treatment or supplementary agent for cardiovascular health. SQ has been shown to exert cardioprotective effect via its antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses are closely related to each other, which proposes an interdependence relation between antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Therefore, this review explores the interdependence between the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of SQ implicated on cardiovascular health.

Effect of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seed aqueous extract on blood glucose, lipid profile and some hormonal assay in Streptozotocin induced diabetic male albino rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia over a prolonged period, since a long time, diabetes has been treated with plant medicines, one of these important plant is Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek), thus, the investigation goals of this study to clarify the role of fenugreek seed aqueous extract in its therapeutic dose on blood glucose , triglycerides, total cholesterol, lower density lipoprotein( LDL), higher density lipoprotein (HDL),very lower density lipoprotein( VLDL), liver and kidney function by estimating alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Blood Urea and serum creatinine, also to clarify the role in treatment of infertility by estimating Lutilising hormone (LH), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH ), testosterone hormone level, sperm count, motility and viability in Stereptozotocin induced diabetes rat for 4-weeks of treatment , 60 adult male albino rats were divided into 4-groups (15 rat for each group), control (normal rats received normal saline), diabetic rats without treatment ,diabetic rats were treated with 300 mg /kg of methanolic plant extract for 4-weeks, diabetic rats treated with 650mg/kg of metformin drug. The result indicated that after 4- weeks of treatment of fenugreek seed aqueous extract, there was an improvement in blood glucose, lipid profile, liver and kidney function. Although there was an improvement in LH, FSH, testosterone hormone, sperm count , viability and motility.

Enhancement of neovascularization with cord blood CD133+ cell-derived endothelial progenitor cell transplantation

SummaryThe endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are responsible for postnatal vasculogenesis in physiological and pathological neovascularization and have been used for attenuating ischemic diseases. However, EPCs from umbilical cord blood (CB) were not well understood and the homing mechanisms of EPCs remain unclear. To determine the potential application of CB-derived EPCs, we established a culture system to induce the differentiation of CB cells into EPCs. Purified CB CD133+ cells proliferated and, after further vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) antibody purification, differentiated into EPCs expressing endothelial markers, such as VE-cadherin, VEGFR-2, CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and WeibelPalade bodies. These cells could also take up acetylated lower density lipoprotein (Ac-LDL) and bind Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1 (UEA-1).When expanded EPCs were transplanted via tail vein into nude mice, they incorporated into capillary networks in ischemic hindlimb, augmented neovascularization, and improved ischemic limb salvage. In addition, in ischemic tissue, there were elevated expressions of VEGF and stromal derived factor 1α???????????(SDF-1α), both of which had chemotactic effect on EPCs. Moreover, P-/E-selectins was found on mouse ischemic endothelium and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on CB-derived EPCs. Neutralizing antibody against PSGL-1 blocked the homing of EPCs to ischemic area by 61%. These results demonstrate that CB CD133+ cell-derived EPCs can be applied for therapeutic neovascularization in ischemic diseases, and reveal important roles of chemoattractants and adhesive molecules in the homing of EPCs.