Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Allium hookeri and its mechanism in high fat/high cholesterol-induced obese C57BL/6 mice
- 1Department of Food and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea
- 2Global Convergence Research Division, World Institute of Kimchi, Gwangju, South Korea
Abstract
Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by plaque accumulation and narrowing of blood vessels. Dietary substances may help to prevent atherosclerosis by modulating lipid metabolism and inflammation. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri), a medicinal herb used in Southeast Asia, exhibits antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.
Objective: This study evaluated the protective effects of A. hookeri water extract (AHWE) against atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (HFCD) (60% kcal from fat plus 1% cholesterol; HFCD) for 13 weeks.
Design: Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): control (CON), HFCD, HFCD + AHWE 300 mg/kg/day, and HFCD + AHWE 500 mg/kg/day. Following 12 weeks of dietary intervention, the mice were sacrificed at 17 weeks of age. Body and organ weights, serum parameters, histological changes, and the expression of proteins and genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation were analyzed. The immunomodulatory effects of AHWE were evaluated using regulatory T cells (Tregs).
Results: AHWE supplementation at 500 mg/kg/day reduced body weight gain, liver and adipose tissue weights, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin, while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reducing the atherogenic index in HFCD. AHWE alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and aortic intimal thickening. Mechanistically, AHWE upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, liver X receptor alpha, and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 expression and downregulated CD36, SR-A1, and LOX-1. In addition, AHWE promoted AMP-activated protein kinase activation, inhibited mechanistic target of rapamycin phosphorylation, and suppressed inflammatory responses by reducing nuclear factor-kappa B, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 expression. AHWE increased Treg populations, and IL-10 secretion, while ex vivo analysis confirmed its anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, AHWE inhibited H3K9 and H3K27 acetylation.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that AHWE at 500 mg/kg/day may alleviate atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, Treg-mediated immune balance, and histone acetylation.
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BibTeX
@article{choi2026antiatherosclerotic,
title = {{Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Allium hookeri and its mechanism in high fat/high cholesterol-induced obese C57BL/6 mice}},
author = {Seung-Hui Choi and Ha-Rin Moon and Daeun Hong and Jung-Mi Yun},
journal = {Food \& Nutrition Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.29219/fnr.v70.14716},
url = {https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v70.14716},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Anti-atherosclerotic effects of Allium hookeri and its mechanism in high fat/high cholesterol-induced obese C57BL/6 mice
AU - Seung-Hui Choi
AU - Ha-Rin Moon
AU - Daeun Hong
AU - Jung-Mi Yun
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Food & Nutrition Research
DO - 10.29219/fnr.v70.14716
UR - https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v70.14716
AB - Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by plaque accumulation and narrowing of blood vessels. Dietary substances may help to prevent atherosclerosis by modulating lipid metabolism and inflammation. Allium hookeri (A. hookeri), a medicinal herb used in Southeast Asia, exhibits antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Objective: This study evaluated the protective effects of A. hookeri water extract (AHWE) against atherosclerosis in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (HFCD) (60% kcal from fat plus 1% cholesterol; HFCD) for 13 weeks. Design: Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 10/group): control (CON), HFCD, HFCD + AHWE 300 mg/kg/day, and HFCD + AHWE 500 mg/kg/day. Following 12 weeks of dietary intervention, the mice were sacrificed at 17 weeks of age. Body and organ weights, serum parameters, histological changes, and the expression of proteins and genes involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation were analyzed. The immunomodulatory effects of AHWE were evaluated using regulatory T cells (Tregs). Results: AHWE supplementation at 500 mg/kg/day reduced body weight gain, liver and adipose tissue weights, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin, while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and reducing the atherogenic index in HFCD. AHWE alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and aortic intimal thickening. Mechanistically, AHWE upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, liver X receptor alpha, and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 expression and downregulated CD36, SR-A1, and LOX-1. In addition, AHWE promoted AMP-activated protein kinase activation, inhibited mechanistic target of rapamycin phosphorylation, and suppressed inflammatory responses by reducing nuclear factor-kappa B, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 expression. AHWE increased Treg populations, and IL-10 secretion, while ex vivo analysis confirmed its anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, AHWE inhibited H3K9 and H3K27 acetylation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that AHWE at 500 mg/kg/day may alleviate atherosclerosis by regulating lipid metabolism, inflammation, Treg-mediated immune balance, and histone acetylation.
SN - 1654-661X
ER -