Anti-atherosclerotic effects of combined Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss and Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. extract on hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by lipid accumulation and plaque formation in arterial walls, remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide, with current treatments limited by side effects and incomplete effectiveness. This study evaluated the anti-atherosclerotic and antioxidant properties of a traditional Vietnamese herbal extract named as “ CDT-based extract ” ( CDT ) containing Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss and Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. in a diet-induced atherosclerosis model. New Zealand White rabbits were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) containing cholesterol and peanut oil for 10 weeks, along with either distilled water (HFD control), atorvastatin (2.4 mg/kg, positive control), or CDT at doses of 0.3 and 0.6 g/kg/day. Blood samples were collected at baseline and week 10 for biochemical, antioxidant, and inflammatory markers analysis. Aortic and hepatic tissues underwent gross and microscopic assessment. CDT treatment significantly reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at both doses, while triglycerides were significantly reduced only at 0.6 g/kg/day. Histological examination revealed that CDT reduced atherosclerotic lesion areas and plaque formation compared to the HFD control. Both CDT doses decreased AST, ALT, and bilirubin levels without affecting albumin concentrations. CDT enhanced antioxidant status by increasing superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, and glutathione peroxidase activities while decreasing malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels. These findings suggest CDT exhibits anti-atherosclerotic properties through its antioxidant and lipid-lowering effects.