%0 Journal Article %A Asgari, S %A Moshtaghian, J %A Naderi, GA %A Fatahi, Z %A Hosseini, M %A Dashti, GR %A Adibi, Sh %T Dose Trifolium pratense L. Protect against Development of Fatty Streak in Coronary Arteries? %J Journal of Medicinal Plants %V 6 %N 22 %U http://jmp.ir/article-1-613-en.html %R %D 2007 %K Red clover, Fatty streak, Atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemic, Rabbit, %X Background: Phytoestrogens with a biological activity like estradiol are naturally found in many plants. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effect of red clover (RC), a phytoestrogen-rich member of the legume family (Trifolium pratense L.) on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Method: Twenty rabbits were semi-randomly distributed into four groups of five each. Two groups received either normal diet or normal diet supplemented with RC. Two other groups received similar diets to both of which 1% cholesterol was added. Results: Dietary use of RC in hyperlipidemic rabbits significantly decreased C-reactive protein (CRP), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) whereas, HDL - cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased in those animals (p<0.05). Fatty streak formation was also significantly lower in aorta and left and right coronary arteries in the same animals due to use of dietary RC supplementation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dietary RC may reduce cardiovascular risk factors. %> http://jmp.ir/article-1-613-en.pdf %P 39-45 %& 39 %! %9 Research %L A-10-274-3 %+ Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran %G eng %@ 2717-204X %[ 2007