Role of Hridayarnava Rasa on Inflammatory Responses in Rabbits with High Fat Diet Induced Atherosclerosis
Authors: Chitra Subramani , Arunadevi Rathinam , Sudesh Gaidhani , Ilavarasan Raju , Devi Veeraswamy Sharmila , Thri Vikram Erram Narasimha , Manish Gautam K 
Published: September 2024

Background:
Atherosclerotic plaque formation is a chain of events that begins with fatty streak accumulation followed by monocytes infiltration and lipid core formation. Monocytes/macrophages play an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The role of inflammation and atherosclerosis provides a mechanistic framework for understanding the clinical benefits of lipid-lowering therapies in high-fat diet (HFD) induced atherosclerosis rabbits. Identifying triggers for inflammation and uncovering the details of inflammatory pathways may ultimately present new therapeutic targets. H. Rasa maintains the heart by providing cardioprotective activity along with changes in certain inflammatory markers in atherosclerosis.

Objectives:
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the role of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) in the inflammatory response and how this inflammation triggers the level of white blood cells. The secondary objective is how this Hridayarnava Rasa, an Ayurvedic formulation inhibits the oxidation of LDLc and protects cells from inflammation in HFD-induced atherosclerosis model rabbits.

Materials and Methods:
Newzealand white rabbits of 24 were randomly divided into 6 groups of 4 animals each. Group I rabbits fed with standard pellet diet; group II rabbits fed with HFD; group III, IV, and V were fed with HFD and different doses of H. Rasa and group VI rabbits were fed with HFD plus Atorvastatin.

Results:
Total leucocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, LDLc: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) ratio and total cholesterol (TC): HDLc ratio were increased in group II, III, IV, and VI of 30, 60, and 90 days when compared to group I. The levels of total leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, LDLc: HDLc ratio, and TC: HDLc ratio were significantly reduced in group IV and V of 30, 60, and 90 days when compared to group II. In the present study, treatment with H. Rasa (group V) (i.e., 41.07 mg/kg. b. wt/p. o) was shown to be most effective over 90 days.

Conclusion:
These results suggest that HFD accelerates the development of atherosclerosis by increasing the inflammatory markers such as oxidized LDL (oxLDLc) and leukocyte counts in a time-dependent manner and H. Rasa protects the aorta by preventing the oxidative damage of LDLc which inturn maintains the inflammatory markers and provided the anti-inflammatory responses and protects the aorta from atherosclerotic plaque formation in a dose-and time-dependent manner.

Limitation of the Study:
This study focused on the characteristics of the rabbit lipoprotein pathway and pathophysiology of atherosclerotic lesions via inflammatory markers. This paper primarily determines how H. Rasa protects the aorta from the formation of atherosclerotic plaques caused by oxidative low-density lipoprotein. Further studies will need to focus specifically on the inflammatory pathways and the role of H. Rasa.