Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2026 Aug;51(16):4744-4753. doi: 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20260509.703.
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to investigate the effects of total saponins from Allium macrostemon Bunge(SAMB) on aortic plaques and inflammatory infiltration macrophages in ApoE~(-/-) mice with atherosclerosis(AS). SAMB components were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). AS animal models were established by 50 ApoE~(-/-) mice fed with a high-fat diet and randomized into a model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose SAMB groups, and a simvastatin group. Ten C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. The mice in the blank group and model group were given normal saline by intragastric administration, and the remaining groups were administered corresponding drugs via gavage daily. Aortic sinuses were stained with hematoxylin and eosin(HE) to measure the ratio of aortic plaque area to luminal area. Aortic inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Macrophage infiltration areas were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the protein expression levels of phosphorylated-nuclear factor-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)/NF-κB p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor α(IκBα) were assessed by Western blot. RAW264.7 macrophages were exposed to SAMB-containing serum with different concentrations. Proliferation ability was detected by EdU, and the migration ability of macrophages was detected by the wound healing assay and Transwell. The inflammatory factors, including TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-1β, were detected by ELISA; the levels of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 and IκBα were detected by Western blot; NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation was assessed by immunofluorescence. A total of thirty saponin components were identified from SAMB. Animal experiment results show that compared with the model group, low, medium, and high-dose SAMB groups significantly reduce aortic plaque area, aortic inflammatory factor levels, macrophage infiltration area, and protein expressions of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 in the vascular tissue of AS mice. Cell experimental results indicate that SAMB-containing serum can significantly inhibit LPS-induced abnormal proliferation and migration of RAW264.7 macrophages, reduce inflammatory factor release, decrease the levels of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 and IκBα, inhibit NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, and block NF-κB signaling pathway activation. SAMB reduces inflammatory factors in vascular tissue of AS mice and inhibits macrophage infiltration in aortic plaques, exerting anti-atherosclerotic plaque formation effects. Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the NF-κB-related pathway in macrophages.
PMID:42693027 | DOI:10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20260509.703