اثر تثبیت‌کننده پلاک عصاره زعفران در خرگوش‌های نژاد سفید نیوزیلندی دچار آترواسکلروز اولیه و پیشرفته

پلاک‌های آسیب‌پذیر عامل اصلی سندرم حاد کرونری (ACS) و مرگ ناگهانی هستند که اغلب ناشی از پارگی پلاک‌ها است. مطالعات اثرات ضد آترواسکلروتیک زعفران را نشان داده‌اند، اما تاثیر تثبیت پلاک آن به طور کامل اثبات نشده است. این مطالعه به بررسی اثر تثبیت پلاک عصاره اتانولی زعفران از طریق بیان MMP-9 و TIMP-1 در پلاک‌های آئورت خرگوش‌های سفید نیوزیلند پرداخت. درمان با 100 میلی‌گرم در کیلوگرم عصاره زعفران به مدت 8 هفته باعث کاهش بیان MMP-9 شد.

Background and Aims: Vulnerable plaques are the major cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and sudden death. Studies have shown that 75% of ACS cases are caused by plaque rupture. Recent studies have highlighted the anti-atherogenic effects of saffron. However, studies on the plaquestabilizing effect of saffron have not been completely established. This study aims to investigate the plaque-stabilizing effect of saffron ethanolic extract (SEE) via the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the aortic plaques of New Zealand White rabbits (NZWR). Methods: Forty-five male NZWR were kept on 4 and 8-week highcholesterol diets to induce early and advanced atherosclerosis respectively.

They were randomized to the following groups: (i)baseline; (ii)treatments, given 50 and 100mg/kg/day SEE for 8 weeks; (iii)control, given distilled water. At the end of the study, rabbits were euthanized and the aortas were obtained for immunohistochemical detection of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. Results: 100mg/kg/day SEE treatment for 8 weeks decreased the expression of MMP-9 (p