Antihypercholesterolemic action of a traditional Chinese medicine (Kampo medicine), Ogi-Keishi-Gomotsu-To-Ka-Kojin.
The effect of Ogi-Keishi-Gomotsu-To-Ka-Kojin (OKGK), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Kampo medicine), on cholesterol metabolism was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Intake of OKGK at doses of 1.38 g/kg for 4 weeks significantly reduced total cholesterol levels in the serum and liver of hypercholesterolemia rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet. OKGK suppressed cholesterol absorption through the intestine and stimulated excretion of cholesterol into feces as bile acids. Biochemical study indicated that OKGK treatment enhanced cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity the rate limiting enzyme of cholic acid synthesis, in the liver without any effect on the rate limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Further, cholesterol-enriched diet containing cholic acid suppressed cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase activity, whereas OKGK administration reversed the suppression. In conclusion, these results supported the idea that OKGK may be an effective agent for treatment of patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Wu
C Z
CZ
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
Inoue
M
M
Ogihara
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C117786:ogi-keishi-gomotsu-to-ka-kojin; D002784:Cholesterol; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase