Dose Trifolium pratense L. Protect against Development of Fatty Streak in Coronary Arteries?

• Main Authors: S Asgari (Author), J Moshtaghian (Author), GA Naderi (Author), Z Fatahi (Author), M Hosseini (Author), GR Dashti (Author), Sh Adibi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Institue of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, 2007-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2717-204X; 2717-2058
• Keywords: red clover; fatty streak; atherosclerosis; hyperlipidemic; rabbit; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270
• Source: Journal of Medicinal Plants, Vol 6, Iss 22, Pp 39-45 (2007)

Background: Phytoestrogens with a biological activity like estradiol are naturally found in many plants. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of red clover (RC), a phytoestrogen-rich member of the legume family (Trifolium pratense L.) on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Method: Twenty rabbits were semi-randomly distributed into four groups of five each. Two groups received either normal diet or normal diet supplemented with RC. Two other groups received similar diets to both of which 1% cholesterol was added. Results: Dietary use of RC in hyperlipidemic rabbits significantly decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) whereas, HDL - cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased in those animals (p<0.05). Fatty streak formation was also significantly lower in aorta and left and right coronary arteries in the same animals due to use of dietary RC supplementation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dietary RC may reduce cardiovascular risk factors.