Objective To discover anti-atherosclerotic compounds from Ganoderma cochlear. Methods Silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase C₁₈ column chromatography, and semi-preparative HPLC were used for isolation and purification, and the structures of the isolates were elucidated by various spectroscopic techniques (1D and 2D NMR). The in vitro anti-atherosclerotic activity of compound was evaluated using an ox-LDL-induced macrophage lipid deposition model, and the expression of phenotype-related protein was detected by Western blotting. Results A previously undescribed meroterpenoid, designated as cochlemeroid A (1), was isolated and identified from G. cochlear. BODIPY and Oil Red O staining showed that compound 1 significantly inhibited ox-LDL-induced macrophage lipid deposition in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by reduced TC and TG levels. Furthermore, Western blotting results demonstrated that compound 1 downregulated the expression of cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) and class A scavenger receptor (SR-A), while upregulating the expression of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1). Conclusion In this study, a new meroterpenoid was successfully isolated from G. cochlear. The bioactivity results indicated that compound 1 possessed significant antiatherosclerotic potential.

Ganoderma cochlear (Blume & T. Nees) Bres.  /  cochlemeroid A  /  atherosclerosis  /  meroterpenoids  /  lipid deposition