Xian Zhong, Liu Yan, Xu Wenjuan, Duan Feipeng, Guo Zhonghui, Xiao Hongbin
Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2017;40(11):1839-1845. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b17-00218.
Polygonum multiflorum is widely used in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia in traditional Chinese Medicine. In this study, the effects and relevant mechanisms of lipid-regulation by raw Polygonum multiflorum (RPM) were investigated. The results indicated that the basal plasma lipids, such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), were significantly decreased in RPM treatment groups compared with the model group, especially in the RPM high dose group. The key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in plasma were generally reduced after oral administration, which was consistent with the transcription levels of their target genes. In addition, the hepatotoxicity of RPM was investigated, and RPM showed slightly less liver injury than that induced by simvastatin. Histological analysis indicated that the fat vacuoles and steatosis in hepatocytes were relieved after oral administration of RPM extract at a high dose of 16.2 g/kg, which was more obvious than that induced by simvastatin. These results revealed that RPM exerted its lipid-lowering effect by regulating the expression of related genes, and performed better than simvastatin in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.
何首乌在传统中医中被广泛用于高脂血症的防治。本研究探讨了生何首乌（RPM）调脂的作用及相关机制。结果表明，与模型组相比，RPM治疗组的基础血脂，如低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、总胆固醇（TC）和甘油三酯（TG）显著降低，尤其是在RPM高剂量组。口服给药后，血浆中参与脂质代谢的关键酶，如3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A还原酶（HMGR）、脂肪酸合酶（FAS）和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶（ACC）普遍降低，这与其靶基因的转录水平一致。此外，对RPM的肝毒性进行了研究，结果显示RPM引起的肝损伤略小于辛伐他汀。组织学分析表明，口服16.2 g/kg高剂量RPM提取物后，肝细胞中的脂肪空泡和脂肪变性得到缓解，这比辛伐他汀引起的更为明显。这些结果表明，RPM通过调节相关基因的表达发挥降脂作用，在高脂血症治疗中比辛伐他汀表现更好。
