Anti-Atherosclerotic Effects of Radish Extracts: Comparative Study between White and Purple Radish in Murine Models
Atherosclerosis is a disease caused by plaque buildup in the blood vessels. Smoking increases the chance of heart problems like heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and artery disease in the legs. While statins are widely used as anti-hyperlipidemic drugs, their side effects highlight the need to develop alternative strategies.
Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of natural products in treating vascular endothelial dysfunction.
Raphanus sativus Linn (radish) has nutritional and health benefits, such as anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties.
This study looked at how white and purple radishes from South Korea can help prevent heart disease. They checked blood fats, levels of inflammation, and tissue changes in mice with heart disease.
To this end, ApoE-/- mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks and treated with radish extracts.
Subsequently, histological observations, plasma lipid profile, mRNA expression, and urinary metabolomics were performed.
As a result, the formation of aortic plaque was attenuated by atorvastatin, white radish extract, and purple radish extract. Treatment with white radish extract provided the most significant benefits in reducing triglycerides (9.236 mM), while treatment with purple radish extract significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (202.5 mg/dL).
Specifically, purple radish extract improved total cholesterol (219.3 mg/dL) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (64.3 mg/dL) levels, thereby significantly lowering the atherogenic index (3.47) and cardiac risk factor (4.47).
Both radish extracts significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, as well as urinary arachidonate. Additionally, radish extracts regulated NO synthesis by increasing urinary arginine and balancing iNOS and eNOS expressions. High expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was lowered by radish extracts.
In summary, white and purple radish extracts have a similar effect to atorvastatin in preventing heart disease, according to the study. They work by regulating the expression of inflammatory and endothelial factors. They also control urinary arachidonate and arginine levels. These findings may have potential clinical implications not only in prevention but also in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
If your company is interested in developing or manufacturing a product for atherosclerosis treatment
Source: Jinhyuk Na, Hye-Jeong Hwang, Mal-Soon Shin, Mingyu Kang, Jihye Lee, Geul Bang, Young Jun Kim, Yu-Jin Hwang, Kyung-A. Hwang, Youngja H. Park, Extract of radish (R. Sativus Linn) promotes anti-atherosclerotic effect using urine metabolomics in ApoE−/− mice, Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 78, 2021, 104368, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.104368.
