A water-extract of the Korean traditional formulation Geiji-Bokryung-Hwan reduces atherosclerosis and hypercholesteremia in cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Geiji-Bokryung-Hwan (GBH), a drug preparation consisting of five herbs of Cinnamomi Ramulus (Geiji), Poria Cocos (Bokryun), Mountan Cortex Radicis (Mokdanpi), Paeoniae Radix (Jakyak) and Persicae Semen (Doin), is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is widely used in the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders. A water extract of GBH was found to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation more effectively than probucol, a well-known commercially available antioxidant. In order to evaluate the anti-atherogenic potential of this medication, New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were fed a normal diet for 12 weeks, a high cholesterol diet, a high cholesterol diet containing 1% probucol or a high cholesterol diet containing 5% water-soluble extract of GBH. Both GBH and probucol reduced plasma cholesterol levels. LDLs from the GBH-treated group were more resistant to Cu(2+)-induced oxidation and contained more vitamin E than LDLs from the high cholesterol diet group. Endothelial damage, determined at week 6, was reduced by 55% in the GBH group (P<0.01). GBH treatment reduced an atherosclerotic area in the abdominal aorta by 58% (P<0.05) and cholesterol deposition in the thoracic aorta by 55% (P<0.05). The severity of atherosclerosis in the GBH group was significantly reduced after an adjustment using cholesterol exposure as an index of the cholesterol-lowering effect. On the other hand, diet-induced hyperlipidemic rabbits were given water extract of GBH in doses of 50 (Group B) and 200 mg/kg (Group C) and compared with controls (Group A). At 40 days after intervention in groups A, B and C, total and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly lowered (P<0.01). LDL/high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio was also significantly decreased (P<0.01). This study concludes that the reduction in atherosclerosis by GBH relies not only on its cholesterol-lowering effect but also more heavily on its antioxidant potential, which prevents endothelial damage and inhibits LDL oxidative modification in hypercholesterolemic animals.
Kim
Beob-Jin
BJ
National Research Laboratory for Glycobiology, Korean Ministry of Science and Technology, Kyungju, Kyungbuk 780-714, South Korea.
Kim
Yeon-Kye
YK
Park
Won-Hwan
WH
Ko
Jeong-Heon
JH
Lee
Young-Choon
YC
Kim
Cheorl-Ho
CH
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; C482041:Geiji-Bokryung-Hwan; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014810:Vitamin E; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl