Methylophiopogonanone A, an Ophiopogon homoisoflavonoid, alleviates high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia: assessment of its potential mechanism

Methylophiopogonanone A (MO-A), a homoisoflavonoid extracted from Ophiopogon japonicus, has been shown to attenuate myocardial apoptosis and improve cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, the hypolipidemic effects remain unknown. This study was performed to investigate a potential hypolipidemic effect of MO-A in hyperlipidemia rats, as well as its underlying mechanism of action. A rat model of hyperlipidemia was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). Animals were randomly divided into three groups (n=8/group): normal control group (NC), HFD group, and HFD+MO-A (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) treatment group. The effects of MO-A on serum lipids, body weight, activity of lipoprotein metabolism enzyme, and gene expression of lipid metabolism were evaluated in HFD-induced rats. In HFD-induced rats, pretreatment with MO-A decreased the body weight gain and reduced serum and hepatic lipid levels. In addition, pretreatment with MO-A improved the activities of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase in serum and liver, down-regulated mRNA expression of acetyl CoA carboxylase and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c, and up-regulated mRNA expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α in the liver. Our results indicated that MO-A showed strong ability to ameliorate the hyperlipidemia in HFD-induced rats. MO-A might be a potential candidate for prevention of overweight and dyslipidemia induced by HFD.

Ophiopogonin D of Ophiopogon japonicus ameliorates renal function by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats

Ophiopogonin D (OP-D) is the principal pharmacologically active ingredient from Ophiopogon japonicas, which has been demonstrated to have numerous pharmacological activities. However, its protective effect against renal damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats remains unclear. The present study was performed to investigate the protective effect of OP-D in the STZ-induced DN rat model. DN rats showed renal dysfunction, as evidenced by decreased serum albumin and creatinine clearance, along with increases in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, TGF-β1, and kidney hypertrophy, and these were reversed by OP-D. In addition, STZ induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response in diabetic kidney tissue. These abnormalities were reversed by OP-D treatment. The findings obtained in the present study indicated that OP-D might possess the potential to be a therapeutic agent against DN via inhibiting renal inflammation and oxidative stress.

Effects of polysaccharide from Ophiopogon japonicus on immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine in chicken

In order to investigate the immune enhancement effects of Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharide Ophiopogon japonicus (OJPS) on Newcastle disease (ND) live vaccine, chickens vaccinated against ND live vaccine was orally administered with the OJPS at high, medium and low concentrations respectively. In negative control group, chickens were given orally equal volume of physiological saline. On day 14, 21 and 28, the serum antibody titer, erythrocyte-C3b receptor rosette rate (E-C3bRR), erythrocyte-C3b immune complex rosette rate (E-ICRR) and peripheral lymphocyte proliferation were measured. The results showed that at most time points, the antibody titer, peripheral lymphocyte proliferation, E-C3bRR and elimination rate of immune complex of three OJPS administrating groups were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in negative control group. It indicated that OJPS could significantly improve the immune efficacy of Newcastle disease live vaccine, Ophiopogon japonicus polysaccharide possessed synergistical immunoenhancement.(AU)