Vitis thunbergii (VT) is a wild grape that has been shown to provide various cardioprotective effects. The present study was designed\r\nto examine whether a VT extract could reduce serum lipid levels and prevent atherogenesis in a hypercholesterolemic rabbit model.\r\nAt the end of an 8-week study, our results showed that a VT extract supplement markedly suppressed the serum levels of cholesterol\r\nand low-density lipoprotein, reduced lipid accumulation in liver tissues, and limited aortic fatty streaks. Our findings suggest\r\nthat the VT extract activated AMPK (5-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) with subsequent inhibition of the\r\nactivation of ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase). Our results suggest that this VT extract could be further developed as a potential\r\nlipid-lowering agent and as a natural health food to prevent atherogenesis.
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