AUTHOR=Zhang Yibing , Li Min , Li Xiangjun , Zhang Tong , Qin Meng , Ren Liqun
TITLE=Isoquinoline Alkaloids and Indole Alkaloids Attenuate Aortic Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E Deficient Mice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology
VOLUME=9
YEAR=2018
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00602
DOI=10.3389/fphar.2018.00602
ISSN=1663-9812
ABSTRACT=Background: Several studies have attempted to relate the bioactive alkaloid with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases prevention in animal models, providing inconsistent results. Moreover, the direct anti-atherosclerotic effects of alkaloid have hardly been studied in patients. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to assess the reported effects of alkaloids on aortic atherosclerosis in ApoE−/− mouse models.
Methods: Pubmed and Embase were searched to identify studies which estimated the effect of isolated alkaloids on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E deficient mice. Study quality was assessed using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. We conducted a meta-analysis across 14 studies using a random-effect model to determine the overall effect of the alkaloids, and performed subgroup analyses to compare the effects of the isoquinolone alkaloids and indole alkaloids.
Results: The quality of the included studies was low in the majority of included studies. We clarified that alkaloid administration was significantly associated with reduced aortic atherosclerotic lesion area (SMD −3.19, 95% CI −3.88, −2.51). It is important to remark that the experimental characteristics of studies were quite diverse, and the methodological variability could also contribute to heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses suggested that the isoquinoline alkaloids (SMD −4.19, 95% CI −5.18, −3.20), and the indole alkaloids (SMD −2.73, 95% CI −3.56, −1.90) obviously decreased atherosclerotic burden.
Conclusion: Isoquinoline alkaloids and indole alkaloids appear to have a direct anti-atherosclerotic effect in ApoE−/− mice. Besides the limitations of animal modal studies, this systematic review could provide an important reference for future preclinical animal trials of good quality and clinical development.