Asgary S, Moshtaghian J, Hosseini M, Siadat H
Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Applied Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran. sasgary2yahoo.com
Pak J Pharm Sci. 2008 Oct;21(4):460-4.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a leguminous plant with high contents of phytoestrogen and saponin which are both useful in preventing cardiovascular disorders. This study was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of dietary alfalfa on the development and the progression of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty male rabbits were obtained and kept under standard conditions. After 2 weeks of accommodation to the new place, the animals were semi-randomly distributed into four groups of five each. Animals in Group 1 received basic diet and the ones in Group 2 received the same diet to which 1% cholesterol was added. Groups 3 and 4 received similar diets as Groups 1 and 2 respectively, but supplemented with alfalfa. Each of the four groups was fed with its respected diet for a period of 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected from all animals at the beginning and at the end of the study and blood factors were measured. At the end of the study samples from the right and the left coronary arteries as well as the aorta were collected from all animals for pathological evaluations. Though dietary alfalfa decreased total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride and this effect was not significant, but dietary alfalfa significantly increased HDL. The formation of fatty streaks in the aorta, the right and the left coronary arteries were significantly reduced under the influence of dietary alfalfa. The indication that dietary alfalfa may have preventive effects on the progression of fatty streak formation calls for more studies to clarify the mechanisms of the effect.
紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）是一种豆科植物，富含植物雌激素和皂苷，两者都有助于预防心血管疾病。本研究旨在评估日粮紫花苜蓿对高脂血症家兔动脉粥样硬化发生和发展的预防作用。获取20只雄性家兔并在标准条件下饲养。在适应新环境2周后，将动物半随机分为四组，每组五只。第1组动物接受基础日粮，第2组动物接受添加了1%胆固醇的相同日粮。第3组和第4组分别接受与第1组和第2组相似的日粮，但添加了紫花苜蓿。四组动物各自按照相应日粮喂养12周。在研究开始和结束时从所有动物采集空腹血样并测定血液因子。在研究结束时从所有动物采集右冠状动脉、左冠状动脉以及主动脉的样本进行病理评估。虽然日粮紫花苜蓿降低了总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白和甘油三酯，但这种作用不显著，不过日粮紫花苜蓿显著提高了高密度脂蛋白。在日粮紫花苜蓿的影响下，主动脉、右冠状动脉和左冠状动脉中脂肪条纹的形成显著减少。日粮紫花苜蓿可能对脂肪条纹形成的进展具有预防作用这一迹象需要更多研究来阐明其作用机制。
