Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits have been used in traditional cuisine and in
folk medicine in various countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the constituents and impact of cornelian cherry (C. mas L.) fruits lyophilisate on
lipid levels, PPARα
protein expression, atheromatous changes in the aorta, oxido-redox state, and proinflammatory
cytokines in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. The HPLC-MS method was used for determining active constituents in cornelian cherry. In a subsequent in vivo study the protective effect of the cornelian cherry on diet-induced
hyperlipidemia was studied using a rabbit model fed 1%
cholesterol. Cornelian cherry (100mg/kg b.w.) or
simvastatin (5mg/kg b.w.) were administered orally for 60 days. Two
iridoids -
loganic acid and
cornuside - and five
anthocyanins were identified as the main constituents of the cornelian cherry. The administering of the cornelian cherry led to a 44% significant decrease in serum
triglyceride levels, as well as prevented development of atheromatous changes in the thoracic aorta. Cornelian cherry significantly increased PPARα
protein expression in the liver, indicating that its hypolipidemic effect may stem from enhanced
fatty acid catabolism.
Simvastatin treatment did not affect
PPAR-α expression. Moreover, the cornelian cherry had a significant protective effect on diet-induced oxidative stress in the liver, as well as restored upregulated proinflammatory
cytokines serum levels. In conclusion, we have shown
loganic acid to be the main
iridoid constituent in the European cultivar of the cornelian cherry, and proven that the cornelian cherry could have protective effects on diet-induced hypertriglicerydemia and
atherosclerosis through enhanced PPARα
protein expression and via regulating oxidative stress and
inflammation.