title: Trillin, a steroidal saponin isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea nipponica, exerts protective effects against hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous efforts have been conducted in searching for effective agents against cardiovascular diseases, in particular from herbal medicines. The rhizome of Dioscorea nipponica (Dioscoreae Nipponicae Rhizoma) is a traditional Chinese herb being prescribed to improve the blood circulation. Here, we identified a steroidal saponin trillin from Dioscorea nipponica, which showed robust anti-hyperlipidemic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were induced for hyperlipidemia and subjected to the drug treatment. The anti-hyperlipidemic effects of trillin were evaluated by different biochemical assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In hyperlipidemic rat model, fed with high-fat diet, the blood levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were increased. The intra-peritoneal administration of trillin into those rats significantly improved the bleeding and blood coagulation time, and in parallel the treatment restored the levels of cholesterol, glyceride, LDL and HDL back to the normal condition. In addition, the administration of trillin in rats exerted beneficial effects in improving the levels of lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first time to reveal the anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-oxidative effects of trillin. These results would be important in developing food supplements for health improvements and therapeutic drugs against hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases in future.
authors.affiliation: Shenzhen Municipal Institute for Drug Control, Shenzhen 518029, China.
authors.forename: Tiejie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Roy C Y
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cathy W C
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tina T X
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Kaishun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.forename: Karl W K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tsim
mesh_terms: D020001:1-Butanol / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D027742:Dioscorea / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D012503:Saponins; D012997:Solvents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D020001:1-Butanol; D008148:Lovastatin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase