title: Effect of an Ilex asprella root decoction on the related genes of lipid metabolism from chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The gradually increasing changes in a human hyperlipidemic diet along with chronic stress might play an important role in the increased numbers of fatty liver. This study investigated the effects of Ilex asprella root decoction on related genes of lipid metabolism in chronic stress in hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model control group, simvastatin group, and Ilex asprella root group. To establish chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver models in rats, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, insulin (INS), insulin resistant (IR) index, adiponectin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-pX), glutathione (GSH), liver X receptor (LXR), and sterol responsive element binding protein (SREBP)-1c in rats were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the normal control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, and GSH in the model control group significantly increased (P < 0.01). The protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c increased (P < 0.05), and the serum adiponectin and the SOD and GSH-pX decreased significantly (P < 0.01). When compared to the model control group, the levels of serum lipids, glucose, liver index, INS, IR index, SOD, and GSH-pX in the simvastatin group and Ilex asprella root group increased in varying degrees (P < 0.01 or 0.05); the serum adiponectin and GSH decreased (P < 0.05), while the protein levels of LXRα and SREBP-1c decreased in varying degrees (P < 0.01 or 0.05). When compared to the simvastatin group, the IR index and protein levels of LXRα in the Ilex asprella root group decreased (P < 0.05), and the serum adiponectin and SOD increased (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Ilex asprella root decoction has some protective effects on regulating the related genes of lipid metabolism caused by chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D030017:Ilex / Q000737:chemistry*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008297:Male; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000071518:Liver X Receptors; C000605213:NR1H3 protein, human; C000605215:Nr1h3 protein, rat; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1