Şener, GökselYay, Nagehan OzyilmazAyci, Nurdan BulbulKaya, Rumeysa KelesSen, AliSener, GokselErcan, FerihaEczacılık Meslek Bilimleri Bölümü2025-01-112025-01-11202311309-946910.5472/marumj.1302544https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.1302544https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14627/208Ercan, Feriha/0000-0003-2339-5669; Sener, Goksel/0000-0001-7444-6193; Sen, Ali/0000-0002-2144-5741Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the protective effects of Myrtus communis L. (MC) extract on high fat-diet (HFD) induced heart and aorta damage by evaluating oxidative stress and the endothelial nitric oxide system (eNOS).Materials and Methods: Wistar albino male rats were divided into 3 groups (n=7) as control, HFD, and HFD+MC. Rats in HFD and HFD+MC groups were HFD fed for 16 weeks and in the last 4 weeks saline or MC (100 mg/kg) was administered orally (5 days/week). Triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were estimated in blood serum. Tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters were evaluated biochemically. Tissue morphologies, eNOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), and NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX-2)-immunopositive and apoptotic cells were evaluated histologically.Results: Altered serum lipid profiles, degenerated heart, and aorta morphology, increased malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and myeloperoxidase levels, and iNOS, NOX-2 immunopositive and apoptotic cells, decreased NO levels, eNOS-immunopositive cells in both tissues were observed in HFD group. All these parameters improved in the HFD+MC group. Conclusion: This study revealed that HFD-induced obesity increased iNOS activation and oxidative stress in the cardiac and aortic tissues of the rats. MC improved oxidant/antioxidant balance and prevented heart and aorta damage via eNOS involvement.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessHigh -Fat DietObesityMyrtus Communis LExtractHeartAortaArticleQ4362162170WOS:001008168200003