Research progress in the mechanism of anti-atherosclerotic effect of berberine and its derivatives / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Atherosclerosis is usually the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases. With the change in diet structure and living environment, it has become an increasingly serious global health problem, posing a huge challenge to public health. Berberine, also known as flavonidol, is an isoquinoline-type quaternary alkaloid with purgative and detoxifying effects. Berberine and its derivatives have antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and atherosclerosis prevention effects, etc. Recent research results showed that berberine and its derivatives can play an important role in atherosclerosis prevention through a hypolipidemic effect, anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory activity, improvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction, and regulation of intestinal microbiota. In this review paper, the research progress on the mechanism of action of berberine and its derivatives in the prevention of atherosclerosis was reviewed from the perspectives of a lipid-regulating effect, inhibition of oxidative stress and the inflammatory response, improvement of vascular endothelial dysfunction, and regulation of intestinal microbiota. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical basis for reducing the occurrence of atherosclerosis, improving the clinical symptoms of patients, and further developing berberine-based drugs.

Lipid-lowering Activity of Quansanqi Tablets / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo evaluate the lipid-lowering activity of Quansanqi tablets（QSQ）， an innovative new drug of Panax notoginseng. MethodMice and golden hamsters were used to establish a hyperlipidemia model by injecting egg yolk milk and feeding high-fat diets. The levels of total cholesterol （TC），triglyceride （TG），low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were detected， and liver function indicators ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate amino-transferase （AST）， and alkaline phosphatase （ALP）］ of golden hamsters were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the degree of liver injury. In the experiments， a normal group， a model group， an atorvastatin calcium group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose QSQ groups （0.32， 0.64， 1.28 g·kg-1 for mice， and 0.16， 0.32， 0.64 g·kg-1 for golden hamsters） were set up. ResultCompared with the normal group， the acute hyperlipidemia model mice showed increased TC， TG， and LDL-C levels （P<0.01）， and the hyperlipidemia model mice showed increased TC and LDL-C levels （P<0.01）. Additionally， the hyperlipidemia model golden hamsters showed increased serum TC， TG， LDL-C， ALT， AST， and ALP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining indicated the presence of fat accumulation in the liver， accompanied by inflammatory reactions. Compared with the model group， QSQ of various doses could reduce TC， TG， and LDL-C levels in acute hyperlipidemia model mice （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the high-dose QSQ could reduce TC and LDL-C levels （P<0.01） and increase HDL-C level （P<0.05） in hyperlipidemia model mice， as well as reduce TC， TG， and LDL-C levels in hyperlipidemia model golden hamsters （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially in the first two weeks. In addition， atorvastatin calcium could further increase ALT， AST， and ALP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and aggravate liver function damage， while low-dose QSQ could reduce ALT， AST， and ALP （P<0.05）， and medium- and high-dose QSQ did not cause further liver function damage. ConclusionQSQ have a significant lipid-lowering effect on different hyperlipidemia model animals and can improve liver function and liver injury.

Lipid-lowering effect of Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract in hyperlipidemic mice

Objective: To investigate the effect of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice. Methods: The phytochemical composition of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Forty-two male mice were used. The mice were divided into six groups: normal control, high-fat diet control, simvastatin treatment (20 mg/kg BW/day), and Oroxylum indicum fruit extract (100, 200, 300 mg/kg BW/day) treatment groups. Food intake, body weight, serum parameters, lipid profile, and histopathological lesions of the kidney, liver, and epididymal fat were observed. Results: LC-MS/MS results revealed four major components of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract: luteolin, apigenin, baicalein, and oroxylin A. Twenty-seven volatile oils were identified from Oroxylum indicum fruit extract. Daily oral administration of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract at 100 to 300 mg/kg BW/day significantly reduced the body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P<0.05), whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher than the high-fat diet control group. Treatment with 300 mg/kg BW/day Oroxylum indicum fruit extract reduced the pathological lesion and prevented fat accumulation in the kidney and liver. Conclusions: Oroxylum indicum fruit extract has hypolipidemic effect in hyperlipidemic mice, and the active ingredients of Oroxylum indicum fruit extract, both flavonoids and volatile oils, should be further explored as an antihyperlipidemic agent.

Study on improvement effect of total flavonoids from Matricaria recutita on lipid deposition in HepG 2 cells / 中国药房

O BJECTIVE To investigate the regulatory effect of total fla vonoids of Matricaria recutita on lipid abnormalities in human hepatoma HepG 2 cells and its lipid-lowering mechanism. METHODS The high-content total flavonoids extract from M. recutita was isolated and purified by macroporous resin. HepG 2 cells were divided into control group （without administration ）， model group （without administration ），fenofibrate group （positive control ，3.61 μg/mL）and M. recutita total flavonoids low-dose ， medium-dose and high-dose groups （100，150 and 200 μg/mL）. Except for control group ，lipid deposition model of HepG 2 cells in other groups were established by 1 mmol/L mixture of oleic acid and palmitic acid. After 24 hours of intervention ，the levels of free fatty acids （FFA）in cell supernatant and triglyceride （TG）and FFA in cells were detected ；Oil red O staining was used to observe the deposition of lipid droplets in cells and detect the content of lipid ；DAPI staining was used to observe the protein expression of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2（DGAT2）in cells ，and fluorescence intensity of protein expression of DGAT 2 were also detected ； protein expressions of key enzymes of TG synthesis as acetyl CoA carboxylase （ACC），fatty acid synthase （FAS）and DGAT 2 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS After separation and purification ，the content of total flavonoids from M. recutita increased from 6.72％ to 56.20％. The results of cell experiment showed that compared with control group ，the levels of TG and FFA in cells and FFA in the cell supernatant increased significantly in the model group ，the content of lipid in cells increased significantly，the fluorescence intensity of protein expression of DGAT 2 increased significantly ，and the protein expressions of ACC，FAS and DGAT 2 increased significantly （P＜0.01）； large number of lipid dro plets were accumulated in the cells. Compared with model group ，the levels of above indexes in M. recutita total flavonoids low-dose ， medium-dose andhigh-dose groups were significantly reversed （P＜0.01）；the accumulation of lipid droplets in cells decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS M. recutita total flavonoids can inhibit the TG synthesis of lipid depos ition model HepG 2 cell，reduce the lipid accumulation of cells and prevent the lipid damage of cells. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the expression of ACC/FAS/DGAT 2 pathway.

Study on anti-hyperlipidemia effect of Linderae Radix via regulating reverse cholesterol transport / 中国中药杂志

This article aims to investigate the ameliorative effect of Linderae Radix ethanol extract on hyperlipidemia rats induced by high-fat diet and to explore its possible mechanism from the perspective of reverse cholesterol transport(RCT). SD rats were divided into normal group, model group, atorvastatin group, Linderae Radix ethanol extract(LREE) of high, medium, low dose groups. Except for the normal group, the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia rat models; the normal group and the model group were given pure water, while each administration group was given corresponding drugs by gavage once a day for five weeks. Serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-c), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels were measured by automatic blood biochemistry analyzer; the contents of TC, TG, total bile acid(TBA) in liver and TC and TBA in feces of rats were detected by enzyme colorimetry. HE staining was used to observe the liver tissue lesions; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ATP-binding cassette G8(ABCG8) in small intestine; Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/aerfa(PPARγ/α), liver X receptor-α(LXRα), ATP-binding cassette A1(ABCA1) pathway protein and scavenger receptor class B type Ⅰ(SR-BⅠ) in liver. The results showed that LREE could effectively reduce serum and liver TC, TG levels, serum LDL-c levels and AST activity, and increase HDL-c levels, but did not significant improve ALT activity and liver index; HE staining results showed that LREE could reduce liver lipid deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition, LREE also increased the contents of fecal TC and TBA, and up-regulated the protein expressions of ABCG8 in small intestine and PPARγ/α, SR-BⅠ, LXRα, and ABCA1 in liver. LREE served as a positive role on hyperlipidemia model rats induced by high-fat diet, which might be related to the regulation of RCT, the promotion of the conversion of cholesterol to the liver and bile acids, and the intestinal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids. RCT regulation might be a potential mechanism of LREE against hyperlipidemia.

Lipid-lowering effects of gallic acid on glutamate-induced obese mice / 中成药

AIM To study lipid-lowering effects of gallic acid on glutamate-induced obesity mice.METHODS The obese model was established through subcutaneous injection of 3mg/(g · d)sodium glutamate into neonatal mice.After the model was established,the mice were divided into normal control group,model group,positive control group [simvastatin 30 mg/(kg · d)],high-,and low-dose group of gallic acid [400,200 mg/(kg · d)],and were intragastrically administered for ten weeks.Mice in each group after the last administration were fasted for 12 h except water.Blood was sampled from mouse eyes.The organs and adipose were obtained to determine the organ index and fat index.The levels of HDL-C,TG,LDL-C and TC in serum and liver were determined by using the corresponding reagent kit,and the serum leptin level was determined by ELISA kit and simultaneous determination of SOD,GSH-Px and MDA levels in liver.RESULTS Compared with the normal control group,the body weight and fat weight significantly increased in the model group;the levels of TC,TG and LDL-C in serum and liver significantly increased;the serum leptin level significantly reduced;the activity levels of SOD and GSH-Px in the liver significantly reduced;and the level of MDA significantly increased.Compared with the model control group,the body weight and fat weight significantly reduced in the gallic acid group mice and the levels of TC and TG significantly reduced in the serum and liver;SOD and GSH-Px levels significantly increased,MDA level significantly decreased in the liver.CONCLUSION Gallic acid can significantly reduce the blood lipid level of glutamate-induced obese mice.

Meta-Analysis of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C Variant Reveals Slight Influence on the Lipid-Lowering Efficacy of Statins

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the association between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism; however, the results are conflicting. The effects of statins show significant variability between individuals. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism on the lipid-lowering effects of statins. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science to screen relevant studies. Meta-analysis was performed to identify the association between SLCO1B1 c.521 polymorphisms and the lipid-lowering effects of statinson the basis of the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, we checked for heterogeneity (I 2) among studies and evidence of publication bias. We obtained eight studies including 2,012 wild genotype (T/T) and 526 variant genotype (T/C and C/C) cases. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins between the wildand variant genotypes of SLCO1B1, with a pooled SMD of 0.03 (95% CI: -0.07-0.13). Furthermore, there was no significant effect in the meta-analyses of the variant heterozygote, homozygote, and Chinese populations. Subgroup meta-analysis indicated that the timerequired for the statin to take effectdid notsignificantly affect the association between lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism. However, thewild genotype improved the lipid-lowering efficacy of simvastatin with a pooled SMD of -0.26 (95% CI: -0.47- -0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was detected between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism, with the exception of simvastatin.

Anti-hyperlipidemic effect of soybean extract fermented by Bacillus subtilis MORI in db/db mice / 한국실험동물학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of soy bean extract solution fermented by Bacillus subtilis MORI (BTD-1E) in obese db/db mice. Eight-week-old male db/db mice were administered 33.3 mg/kg BTD-1E solution orally once a day for four weeks. The BTD-1E group showed significantly lower body weight compared with the db control group (P<0.05). The BTD-1E group showed significantly lower serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels compared with the db control group, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). The BTD-1E group showed significantly decreased liver weight relative to final body weight compared with the db control group (P<0.01). After four weeks of BTD-1E administration, lipid droplets in the liver were apparently decreased in the BTD-1E group compared to the db control group. In summary, our results suggest that BTD-1E has an anti-hyperlipidemic effect in the obese mouse model.