Effects of purified compound (8501) on hyperlipidemia and the balance between thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin in rabbits.

New Zealand strain white male rabbits were divided into four groups to study the effects of 8501, extracted from a Chinese herb, on hyperlipidemia and the TXA2/PGI2 ratio in atherosclerotic rabbits. The results indicate that serum cholesterol and the levels of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in aortic tissue were significantly increased in cholesterol-fed rabbits. The percentage of alpha-lipoprotein was significantly decreased and the aortic atherosclerotic plaque area was significantly increased. The data also demonstrate that the level of plasma TXB2 was markedly increased, while that of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha was significantly decreased. The TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratio (T/6) was significantly increased. The decrease of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha occurred prior to the increase of TXB2. Compound 8501 not only lowered serum total cholesterol and aortic total cholesterol and cholesteryl ester but also antagonized the decrease of alpha-lipoprotein and atherosclerotic plaque formation. In addition, 8501 prevented the decrease of plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and the increase of TXB2, and so the T/6 ratio was significantly decreased.