Cornelian cherry consumption increases the L-arginine/ADMA ratio, lowers ADMA and SDMA levels in the plasma, and enhances the aorta glutathione level in rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet

In our previous publication we showed that the oral administration of cornelian cherry fruits prevented feed-induced atherosclerosis. In this study we have examined the effect of cornelian cherry lyophilisate on proteins responsible for regulation of NO synthesis: asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, SDMA) and L-arginine in plasma, and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) in the liver. We have also assessed the systemic and local redox status in the blood and the aorta, and the thickness of the thoracic aorta. We have shown that 60-days of administering lyophilisate to rabbits fed 1% cholesterol increased the L-arginine and L-arginine/ADMA ratio, decreased ADMA and SDMA, increased DDAH activity, and had a positive impact on the redox state in the aorta but not in the blood, measured as decreased MDA, and increased glutathione, GPx, and SOD. Moreover, lyophilisate significantly decreased intima thickness and the intima/media ratio in the thoracic aorta. Concluding, the L-arginine-ADMA-DDAH pathway may contribute to the beneficial effects of the cornelian cherry in feed-induced atherosclerosis. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.