<i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> Bertoni root polysaccharide ameliorate high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE-knock out mice: potential role of inflammation regulation

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a prevalent typical chronic inflammation disease characterised by lipid deposition, immune cell infiltration and inflammatory response in the arterial intima. The long-term treatments of the existing drugs suffered safety concerns. <i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> Bertoni, a perennial shrub of the <i>Asteraceae</i> family, is known as a sweetener for its leaves, which are mainly composed of steviol glycosides, steviosides, and rebaudiosides. <i>Stevia rebaudiana</i> Bertoni roots polysaccharide (SRRP), an inulin-type fructan, possess the potential roles for hypoglycaemic property, the reduction of hepatic lipid deposition and abdominal lipid accumulation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant. These properties suggest that SRRP might ameliorate atherosclerosis. This study aims to focus on the ameliorating AS effect of SRRP on lipid metabolism and the inflammatory response though high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout (ApoE^-/-)mice. The results indicated SRRP ameliorated high-fat-diet-induced atherosclerosis in ApoE^-/- mice by reducing the serum lipid concentrations, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress.