Anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-atherosclerotic actions of shosaikoto (kampo medicine).
We investigated the anti-atherosclerotic action shown by Shosaikoto, a Kampo medicine, using hypercholesterolemic mice. Oral administration of Shosaikoto significantly suppressed the elevation of serum cholesterol in C57BL/6 mice fed a 1.25% cholesterol-enriched diet for four weeks and improved the T cell ratio in peripheral blood, which decreased with the increase of the serum cholesterol level. In addition, Shosaikoto reduced the accumulation of cholesteryl oleate, which alters macrophages into foam cells, after the treatment of macrophages with oxidized or acetylated low density lipoprotein (LDL). Enzymatic study revealed that the treatment of macrophages with oxidized LDL enhanced acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity and markedly reduced neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase (NCEase) activity. Shosaikoto treatment prevented a decrease in the NCEase activity, however due to the oxidized LDL treatment, although it slightly augmented ACAT activity. Thus, Shosaikoto, which is known to modulate the immune system, improves macrophage and lymphocyte functions diminished by hypercholesterolemia, resulting in an anti-atherosclerotic action.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Japan.
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Shen
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Inoue
Y
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Nagatsu
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Ogihara
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Aburada
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D002787:Sterol Esterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C461321:shosaikoto-go-keishika-shakuyakuto; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase; D002787:Sterol Esterase