Citrus reticulata peel oil as an antiatherogenic agent: Hypolipogenic effect in hepatic cells, lipid storage decrease in foam cells, and prevention of LDL oxidation

CASTRO, MARÍA A.; LLANOS, MANUEL A.; RODENAK-KLADNIEW, BORIS E.; GAVERNET, LUCIANA; GALLE, MARIANELA E.; CRESPO, ROSANA

NUTRITION METABOLISM AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2020

0939-4753

Background and Aims: Hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress are two of the mostimportant risk factors for atherosclerosis. The aim of the present work was to evaluatemandarin (Citrus reticulata) peel oil (MPO) in cholesterol metabolism and lipid synthesis,and its antioxidant capacity.Methods and results: Incubation of hepatic HepG2 cells with MPO (15?60 μL/L) reducedcholesterogenesis and saponifiable lipid synthesis, demonstrated by [14C]acetate radioactivityassays. These effects were associated with a decrease in a post-squalene reaction of themevalonate pathway. Molecular docking analyses were carried out using three differentscoring functions to examine the cholesterol-lowering property of all the components of MPOagainst lanosterol synthase. Docking simulations proposed that minor components of MPOmonoterpenes, like alpha-farnesene and neryl acetate, as well the major component, limoneneand its metabolites, could be partly responsible for the inhibitory effects observed in cultureassays. MPO also decreased RAW 264.7 foam cell lipid storage and its CD36 expression, andprevented low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lipid peroxidation.Conclusion: These results may imply a potential role of MPO in preventing atherosclerosis bya mechanism involving inhibition of lipid synthesis and storage and the decrease of LDL lipidperoxidation