Author/Authors :
Khademi Jaromi، Farzaneh نويسنده Health Network of Fereydounshahr, Isfahan Univ. of Med. Scien and health serv, Iran , , Danesh، Behnam نويسنده PhD Candidate, Department of Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , DELAZAR، ABBAS نويسنده , , Mohammad Nejad، Daryoush نويسنده Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran , , Ghorbani، Masoud نويسنده PhD Candidate, Department of Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapy, School of Advanced Medical Technologies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Soleimani Rad، Jafar نويسنده Professor, Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ,
Abstract :
BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease which is caused by a
high-fat diet. Many of these patients use boiled quince leaves for their treatment. However, the
supporting scientific information is limit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of
quince leaf on the progression of atherosclerosis and whether it can be an appropriate
alternative to statins.
METHODS: 24 male rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: normal diet (6 n) and highcholesterol
diet (2% cholesterol, 18 n) for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8 weeks, both groups
underwent blood sampling and their biochemical markers were measured. Then, all animals in
the normal-diet group and three of the high-cholesterol diet group were killed to investigate
atheromic plaque in their coronary artery. The 15 remaining rabbits of the high-cholesterol diet
group were randomly divided into 3 groups (5 n) after discontinuation of the fatty diet. The first
group was not given any treatment, the second received atorvastatin (0.5 mg/kg) orally, and the
third received quince leaf extract (50 mg/kg) orally for 12 weeks. At the end of this period, after
blood sampling, biopsy of coronary artery was performed for histological study.
RESULTS: The results showed that atorvastatin and quince leaf significantly decreased total
cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, AST, ALT, AP, BUN, and Cr levels compared with the first group
of the high-cholesterol diet group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between
atorvastatin and quince leaf extract groups in biochemical markers and atherosclerotic plaque in
coronary artery.
CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin and quince leaf extract can effectively prevent the progression of
atherosclerosis in coronary arteries. According to the results of this study and also lower toxic
effects of herbal medication compared to synthetic medication, leaf extract can be a substitute
for statins in treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The anti-atherosclerotic effect
of quince leaf is most likely related to its antioxidant components.
