Atherosclerosis is an illness due to plaque build-up in the artery. The plaque, mainly consisted of fat, cholesterol, calcium would harden and narrows the blood vessels, interfering with the blood distribution. Hypercholesterolemia is one of the main causes of atherosclerosis. Arterial endothelial permeability alterations due to increasing plasma cholesterol levels allow LDL-C to migrate into the artery, resulting in a series of vascular changes. Several complications of atherosclerosis includes cardiac arrest, stroke, even death. Due to its fatality and lack of symptoms, it is crucial to prevent atherosclerosis. Terminalia catappa L. has been recognized for its antioxidative properties. It contains flavonoids, especially quercetin that exhibited protective effects in the cardiovascular system as well as hinders cellular damage. Various studies had found that quercetin possess several atheroprotective qualities, reducing inflammation and cell damage caused by ox-LDL, lipid precipitation, atherosclerotic plaque, as well as serum levels of ox-LDL, LDL-C, IL-6, and. TNF-.
Keywords: atherosclerosis, Terminalia catappa L. leaves, ox-LDL, antioxidant, CVD.