Fruit of <i>Phyllanthus emblica</i> L. suppresses macrophage foam-cell genesis and vascular lipid deposition using <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> models of early atherosclerosis development

Phyllanthus emblica L. has been used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but its mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, fluorescence imaging in Zebrafish was used to screen phytomedicines for effects on atherosclerosis development in vivo. We found that an ethyl-acetate extract of P. emblica fruit (E-EA) proved highly effective for reducing vascular monocyte infiltration. The E-EA also reduced vascular cholesterol deposition in Zebrafish fed a high-fat diet. In vitro, E-EA suppressed the net deposition of cholesterol in macrophages in response to oxidized LDL. Suppression of macrophage foam-cell genesis resulted from substantial decrease in fluorescence-labelled-ox-LDL uptake as well as increased cholesterol efflux. Secretion of inflammatory cytokines from macrophages was also suppressed. QTOF-LC/MS revealed several unique compounds present in E-EA that have yet to be characterized for their anti-atherosclerosis effects. Our studies suggest that the fruit of P. emblica may suppress vascular lipid deposition by inhibiting macrophage recruitment and foam-cell genesis.