Affiliations: Department of Clinical Analysis, Health Sciences
Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC,
Brazil | Department of Ecology and Zoology, Biological Sciences
Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC,
Brazil
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Edson Luiz da Silva, Departamento de
Análises Clínicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde,
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário, Trindade,
Florianópolis, 88040-970 Santa Catarina, Brazil. Tel: +55 48 331 8053;
Fax: +55 48 331 9542; E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]
Abstract: Ilex paraguariensis aqueous extract (mate) is an antioxidant-rich
beverage widely consumed in South American countries. Here we questioned
whether mate could reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in 1%
cholesterol-fed rabbits. New Zealand White male rabbits (n=32) were divided
into four groups: control (C, n=5), control-mate (CM, n=5),
hypercholesterolemic (HC, n=11) and hypercholesterolemic-mate (HCM, n=11). The
daily water and mate extract consumption was approximately 400 ml. After 2
months of treatment, mate intake did not change the lipid profile or hepatic
cholesterol content of control or hypercholesterolemic rabbits (p< 0.05).
However, the atherosclerotic lesion area was considerably smaller in the
hypercholesterolemic-mate group (HCM, 35.4% vs. HC, 60.1%; p<0.05). In
addition, the aortic cholesterol content was around half that of the HC group
(HCM, 36.8 vs. HC, 73.9 μg/mg of protein, p<0.05). In spite of this, the
thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the atherosclerotic aorta,
liver and serum, and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in liver and aorta
did not differ among groups (p>0.05). The results showed that Ilex
paraguariensis extract can inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis in
cholesterol-fed rabbits, although it did not decrease the serum cholesterol or
aortic TBARS and antioxidant enzymes.
