RESUMO
Aim To investigate the influence of Schisandrae Fructus ( Wuweizi in Chinese) and com¬patible with Glycyrrhiza ( Gancao in Chinese ) on the levels of serum lipids and their influence on liver syn¬thesis pathway of triglyceride ( TG ). Methods ICR mice were divided, according to weight randomized block method, into four groups; normal control group ( Control, C ), Schisandrae Fructus ethanolic extract group (SF) , Schisandrae Fructus compatible with Gly¬cyrrhiza ethanolic extract (SG) 1 : 1 and 1 : 1.5. The control group was intragastrically given normal saline (10 mL • kg-1), SF group, SG 1 : 1 and 1 : 1. 5 group were given the extract 3. 9 g • kg"1 in crude of Schisandrae Fructus for 10 days. The levels of TG, to¬tal cholesterol (TC) , low-density lipoprotein-cholester¬ol ( LDL-C ) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) were detected by biochemical method, as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity. The activities of liver fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acctyl-COA carboxylase ( ACC ), and levels of GPAT, acy- CoA oxidase ( ACO ) were detected by enzyme immu¬noassay ( ELISA ). The protein expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-lc (SREBP-lc) and peroxisome proliferator-activiated receptor-a ( PPARa ) were detected by immunohistochemistry technique. Results Compared with C group, the lev¬els of TG and TC increased significantly, the level of serum LDL-C decreased significantly, the activities of liver ACC and GPAT level increased markedly, the protein expression of SREBP-1 c was markedly up-regu¬lated, and the protein expression of PPARa was evi¬dently down-regulated in SF group. When compared with SF group, the levels of serum TG and ACO, the activities of serum ALT and GPAT apparently de¬creased in SG 1 : 1 group. The protein expression of SREBP-1 c in SG 1 : 1 and 1 : 1.5 group was signifi¬cantly down-regulated, and the protein expression of PPARa was markedly up-regulated. Conclusions High dose of SF can increase the serum TG and TC levels , and the mechanisms may be related to that SF can promote the expression of liver SREBP-lc, in¬crease the activities and levels of FAS, ACC and GPAT in TG synthesis pathway, and down-regulate protein expression of PPARct and ACO for promoting liver TG synthesis. Compatible with Glycyrrhiza can significantly improve the elevated blood lipids and the proteins in the TG synthesis pathway.