Resveratrol causes antiatherogenic effects in an animal model of atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND Resveratrol protects the cardiovascular system by a number of mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-platelet activities. OBJECTIVE To assess the potential anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic effects of resveratrol using rabbits fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol). METHODS Twenty white male rabbits were selected and divided into two groups: control group (CG), 10 rabbits; and resveratrol group (RG), 10 rabbits. The animals were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 56 days. For the RG diet, resveratrol (2 mg/kg weight/day) was added from days 33-56. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides between the groups. Of the CG, 70% had advanced aortic atherosclerotic lesions (types III, IV, V, or VI). All animals from the RG had mild aortic atherosclerotic lesions (types I or II, or no lesions). The intima area and the intima/media layer area ratio was significantly lower in the RG as compared to the CG (p<0.001). Positive areas for VCAM-1 molecules were lower in the RG (p=0.007). The MCP-1 and IL-6 concentrations were lower in the RG than the CG (p=0.039 and p=0.015, respectively). CONCLUSION Resveratrol had significant anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in an animal model with rabbits fed a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol).