Fig. 4

Atheroprotective effect of CDNVs. A The serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in the indicated groups of mice (n = six mice per group). B The serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and CXCL12 were measured in the indicated groups of mice (n = six mice per group). C Oil-red-O staining was used to visualize atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta trees of ApoE-/- mice, and representative images were taken. D The area of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta trees of ApoE-/- mice was quantified and statistically analysed (n = six mice per group). E Oil-red-O staining was used to visualize atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta roots of ApoE-/- mice, and representative images were taken. F The area of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta roots of ApoE-/- mice was quantified and statistically analysed (n = five mice per group). Scale bar represents 500 μm. Data are presented as the means ± SD. Significance levels are indicated as *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, or ns (not significant). The details for each group were shown as below: PBS ig.: mice were orally administered with 200 µL of PBS; CDNVs ig.: mice were orally administered with 40 mg/kg of CDNVs; HSYA ig.: mice were orally administered with 0.27 mg/kg HSYA; PBS iv.: mice were intravenously administered with 200 µL of PBS; CDNVs iv.: mice were intravenously administered with 40 mg/kg of CDNVs; HSYA iv.: mice were intravenously administered with 0.27 mg/kg HSYA. All treatments were administered three times per week for 12 weeks. The H&E staining and the measurement of serum biomarkers were performed at the end of the 12-week treatment period