Bioactive components and the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Vaccinium myrtillus on postprandial atherosclerosis risk factors in rabbits

Background and Objective: The important contribution of postprandial state to cardiovascular disease is increasingly being recognized. Diet rich in antioxidant may have beneficial effects on preventing coronary heart disease. This study was therefore aimed to evaluate bioactive components, antioxidant activity and postprandial atheroprotective effects of Vaccinium myrtillus (VM). Methodology: Male rabbits weighing 2.15±13 gr were randomly designed into 3 groups of 8, using the following regimens: basic diet, hypercholesterolemic diet and hypercholesterolemic diet+VM. The concentration of total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, Alanin aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fibrinogen, factor VII, nitrite and nitrate were determined in rabbits. Results: Vaccinium myrtillus decreased LDL-c, TC and ApoB, liver enzymes (ALT, AST) and inflammatory factors, while endothelial markers (nitrate and nitrate) had subtle decrease in VM treated rabbits. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that consumption of VM, rich in antioxidant may have beneficial effects on preventing coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis by decreasing remnant lipoprotein values in postprandial state.