Effects of Alcoholic Extract of Stem and Aerial Parts of the Alcea angulate Plant on Aorta Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation in Rabbit

Background: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of mortality in heart disease patients that its dependence on cholesterol levels has been shown. The side effects of chemical drugs have created a tendency toward medicinal plants for treatment of diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of the Alcea angulate on the formation of atherosclerotic plaque due to hypercholesterolemia in rabbit aorta. Methods: 25 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into 5 groups. Two months respectively treated with basic diet [group 1], basic diet plus 1% cholesterol [control group, group 2], 1% cholesterol with diet intervention Alcea angular at doses of 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg of body weight [groups 3, 4 and 5]. Blood lipid profile levels were measured after 60 days. At the end of the study, the animals were scarified and lipid profile and atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta arteries was measured. Data using SPSS ver. 16 were analyzed. Tukey HSD test was used to compare paired groups. Results: Serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL.C of the groups which treated with the Alcea angulata was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.01). Serum levels of HDL in treated groups compared to the control group significantly increased (p<0.01). Pathology studies showed the desired effects and mitigation of extract on the progression of aorta atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Conclusion: The overall result demonstrated that use of the Alcea angulate plant reduced total cholesterol and LDL in the blood and inhibited the atherosclerotic plaque formation.