The influence of Sam-Chil-Geun (Panax notoginseng) on the serum lipid levels and inflammations of rats with hyperlipidemia induced by poloxamer-407.
OBJECTIVE
Atherosclerosis is characterized by the progressive deposition of lipids and inflammatory process. We attempted to develop a chemically-induced hyperlipidemic mice model, using poloxamer-407 and evaluated the lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory effect of P. notoginseng compared with that of atorvastatin, an antihyperlipidemic drug.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notogin-seng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100). After 3 weeks, we measured serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels, and reports of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) appearances in each group.


RESULTS
After 3 weeks, serum cholesterol levels significantly decreased in P + ST and P + NG40 groups. Significant decrease of LDL level was only noted in the P + ST group. P + ST, P + NG40, and P + NG100 also had decreased serum triglyceride levels; however, P + ST and P + NG40 showed no statistical difference of the triglyceride lowering effect. The results of IL-1 and TNF-alpha and the appearance of COX-2 and ICAM were statistically not different in each group.


CONCLUSIONS
P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg showed significantly lowering effects on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. We suggest a well-designed study showing the effects of regulating blood lipids with combined administration of P. notoginseng and statin-drug.
Joo
Il Woo
IW
Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, College of Medicine, Kwandong University, Gangneung 210-701, Korea.
Ryu
Jae Hwan
JH
Oh
Han Jin
HJ
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D020442:Poloxamer; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008055:Lipids; C519374:Panax notoginseng extract; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D020442:Poloxamer; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2