HYPOLIPIDEMIC AND ANTI-PLATELET AGGREGATORY EFFECTS OF LCARNITINE AND _-LIPOIC ACID ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED ATHEROSCLEROSIS.

Kumar, Ponnusamy; Sutha, Rajendiran; Murugesan, Annamalai; Dayanandan, Anandan

Introduction: Cerebrovascular accident is associated with increased thrombogenic-tendency, circulation dysfunction, dyslipidemias, and it is recognized that macrovascular complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality. Oxidative stress is closely related to L-Carnitine (LC) and _-Lipoic acid (ALA) deficiency which occurs in diabetes, atherosclerosis, neurological disorders and in aging. The abnormalities underlying diabetic, atherosclerotic and senile neuropathies involve metabolic, membrane-molecular, neuronal-vasomediated defects. The present study was to determine whether administration of LC and ALA would exert antiatherosclerotic effects. Methodology: Male albino rats weighing about 180-200 g were divided into 5 groups: a control, saline and LC/ ALA/ LC-ALA-treated atherosclerotic groups. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by giving synthetic atherosclerotic diet for 4 months. A pharmacological dose (300 mgs LC and/or 100 mgs of ALA/kg b.wt, i.p in saline) of LC and ALA was administered for 28 days at the end of the experimental period. Results: Atherosclerotic rats elicited a significant decline in the antioxidant status and HDL-C as well as a significant increase in lipidperoxidation (LPO), protein-carbonyl-content (PCC), xanthineoxidase (XO), plasma fibrinogen, platelet-aggregation, lipid profile and LDL-C when compared with controls. Supplementation of LC and ALA was effective in reducing plasma fibrinogen, platelet aggregation, LPO, PCC and XO as well as a significant increase in the overall antioxidant status. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that LC and ALA has protective antiatherosclerotic effects. Thus, the unique actions of LC and ALA as potent lipotrophic, antiperoxidative, iron-chelatingantioxidant, eicosanoid-modulatory and antiplatelet-aggregator might be useful in the prevention and repair of stroke and ultimate degenerative changes.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS; CARNITINE deficiency; LIPOIC acid; HYPOLIPEMIA; BLOOD platelet aggregation; LABORATORY rats

Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 2007, Vol 14, p178

1394-195X

Academic Journal