Lifestyle choices play a significant role in the etiology of atherosclerosis. Male Apoe−/− mice that develop spontaneous atherosclerotic lesions were fed 0%, 0.3%, and 0.4% mangosteen extracts, composed largely of α-mangostin (MG), for 17 weeks. Body weight gains were significantly decreased in both MG-treated groups compared to the control, but the general condition remained good throughout the study. The levels of total cholesterol (decreased very-low-density lipoprotein in lipoprotein profile) and triglycerides decreased significantly in the MG-treated mice in conjunction with decreased hepatic HMG-CoA synthase and Fatty acid transporter. Additionally, increased serum lipoprotein lipase activity and histopathology further showed a significant reduction in atherosclerotic lesions at both levels of MG exposure. Real-time PCR analysis for macrophage indicators showed a significant elevation in the levels of Cd163, an M2 macrophage marker, in the lesions of mice receiving 0.4% MG. However, the levels of Nos2, associated with M1 macrophages, showed no change. In addition, quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of macrophage subtypes showed a tendency for increased M2 populations (CD68+/CD163+) in the lesions of mice given 0.4% MG. In further analysis of the cytokine-polarizing macrophage subtypes, the levels of Interleukin13 (Il13), associated with M2 polarization, were significantly elevated in lesions exposed to 0.4% MG. Thus, MG could suppress the development of atherosclerosis in Apoe−/− mice, possibly through an M2 macrophage-mediated mechanism.

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To compare the difference of constituents in the pericarp and in the leaf of Citrus species, polyoxygenated flavones were examined using the leaves of Citrus reticulata Blanco (Rutaceae). Two new flavones, which were not detected in the pericarps of the plant, were isolated, along with other polyoxygenated flavones (1). In this paper the structure elucidation and the syntheses of the flavones are described.Besides eight known polyoxygenated flavones (5-hydroxy-3',4',

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