Abstract: Objective: A rat model was used to investigate the preventive effect of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit polyphenols (ASFP) on atherosclerosis (As) and the underlying mechanism was explored. Methods: The atherosclerosis model was built by feeding rats with high-fat diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal injection with vitamin D3. Forty male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10): control, HFD, HFD + low-dose ASFP and HFD + high-dose ASFD groups. The rats from the ASFD-treat groups were daily administered with 150 or 75 mg/(kg·d) ASFP during the HFD feeding period of 12 days, while those from the control and HFD groups were given an equal volume of normal saline. Serum biochemical parameters were detected and atherosclerosis index (AI) was calculated at the end of administration. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the atherosclerosis lesion in the aorta of rats. The expression levels of adhesion molecules in the aorta and key genes involved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were measured by Western blot. Results: The levels of blood lipids, adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines in rats were significantly decreased by ASFP compared with the model group. In addition, after treatment with ASFP, aortic lipid deposition was reduced and the structure of disordered layers was significantly improved compared with the model group. Furthermore, the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), phospho-p38 (p-p38) and phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in the rat aorta were significantly down-regulated by treatment with ASFP compared with the model group. Conclusion: ASFP plays an important role in preventing atherosclerosis, which may be related to the reduction of blood lipids and the inhibition of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways, thereby inhibiting the expression of inflammatory cytokines.

Key words: Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, polyphenols, atherosclerosis, blood lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory