Catechin Attenuates Coronary Heart Disease in a Rat Model by Inhibiting Inflammation

Accumulating evidence has established that systemic inflammation is an important pathophysiologic factor of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this study, we investigated whether catechin exerts anti-inflammatory function in CHD rats. CHD model of rats was established by high-fat diet feeding and pituitrin injection. The successful building of CHD model was confirmed using blood liquid biochemical analyzer. Additionally, the effects of catechin on CHD parameters and several inflammatory signaling were investigated. The levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterin, triglyceride and blood glucose were all significantly elevated in CHD rats compared to them in control rats, suggesting the successful establishment of CHD model. Administration of catechin attenuated CHD by reversing the levels of creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin (cTnT), ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and systolic internal diameter (LVIDs). Additionally, several inflammatory biomarkers or cytokines such as C-reactive protein, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were inhibited by catechin. In contrast to nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB), several proteins involved in inflammation such as farnesoid X receptor, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)-3 and protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) were all activated by catechin. Catechin could be used as a promising treatment for CHD based on its role in suppressing inflammation and balancing STAT-3 signaling.