Anti-atherogenic effect of <i>Channa striatus</i> fish extract in high cholesterol-fed rabbits

Purpose: To determine the effect of aqueous extract of Channa striatus on plasma lipids concentrations, pro-inflammatory cytokines  levels, adhesion molecules and arterial plaque formation in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Methods: New Zealand rabbits (n = 30, females) were divided into five groups of six rabbits each as follows: cholesterol control group (0.5  % cholesterol); normal control group (normal diet), positive control group (0.5 % cholesterol + 5 mg/kg atorvastatin); and treatment  groups (0.5% cholesterol + 250 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg C. striatus extracts, respectively) for 6 weeks. Blood was taken every 2 weeks and analyzed for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglyceride (TG),  tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Atherogenic index (AI) was calculated based on LDL:HDL ratio.   Results: Cholesterol feeding for 6 weeks resulted in significantly increased TC, LDL, HDL, AI, TG, TNFα and IL-1β when compared to C.  striatus-fed rabbits. Serum LDL was 26.34 ± 1.43 mmol/L in C. striatus group to 30.52 ± 0.82 mmol/L in cholesterol group (p < 0.05). C.  striatus extract (250 mg/kg) increased HDL by approximately 400 % (6.23 ± 1.76 mmol/L from 0.72 ± 0.18 mmol/L), decreased AI value (4.6  in C. striatus group to 10.4 in cholesterol group). Also, IL-1β and TNF-α concentration also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced with C.  striatus administration. Interestingly, down-regulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression and reduced plaque formation were observed  with C. striatus feeding. Conclusion: Channa striatus extract is effective in reducing atherogenesis. This could be due to the high HDL  level produced in 250 mg/kg dose group, and strongly suggests the significance of HDL in preventing atherogenesis even if other lipid  profiles remain unchanged