Natural phenylpropanoids inhibit lipoprotein-induced endothelin-1 secretion by endothelial cells.

There is increasing evidence that oxidized low-density lipoproteins (Ox-LDL) might be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and it has been reported that polyphenols inhibit LDL peroxidation and atherosclerosis. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor peptide isolated from endothelial cells and it induces smooth muscle cell proliferation. ET-1 secretion is increased in atheroma and induces deleterious effects such as vasospasm and atherosclerosis. The goal of this study was to test the effect of four natural phenolic compounds against copper-oxidized LDL (Cu-LDL)-induced ET-1 liberation by bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). The tested compounds were phenylpropanoid glycosides previously isolated from the aerial parts of Marrubium vulgare L. (acteoside 1, forsythoside B 2, arenarioside 3 and ballotetroside 4). ET-1 secretion increased when cells were incubated with Cu-LDL but the compounds 1-4 inhibited this increase. These results were confirmed by quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) analysis. Since ET-1 plays an important role in atherosclerosis development, our work suggests that the tested phenylpropanoids could have a beneficial effect in inhibiting atherosclerosis development.