Effects of the Cynanchum wilfordii Ethanol Extract on the Serum Lipid Profile in Hypercholesterolemic Rats.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the ethanol extract of Cynanchum wilfordii (ECW) on the blood lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed free access to either a normal diet (AIN-93 diet), or 1% high-cholesterol diet with or without 0.5% or 1% ECW for 5 weeks. After sacrifice, the rat serum lipid profile was analyzed. The diets containing ECW decreased body weight gains compared to the normal diet. Serum HDL-cholesterol levels of ECW-fed groups were significantly increased in the hypercholesterolemic groups and normal groups (P<0.05). When 1% ECW was fed to the normal group, total cholesterol level was increased. Moreover, treatment of ECW in hypercholesterolemic groups yielded a dose-dependent and highly significant decrease in the atherogenic index as compared to the control. These results suggest that intake of Cynanchum wilfordii may help reduce the risks of hypercholesterolemia by increasing blood HDL-cholesterol and lowering the atherogenic index.
Department of Culinary Science and Food Service Management, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Hye-Sung
HS
Lee
Department of Food Science, Keimyung University, Daegu 704-701, Korea.
Jun-Hyeok
JH
Choi
Division of Metabolism and Functionality Research, Functionality Evaluation Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Gyeonggi 463-746, Korea.
Young-Eon
YE
Kim
Division of Metabolism and Functionality Research, Functionality Evaluation Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Gyeonggi 463-746, Korea.
In-Ho
IH
Kim
Division of Metabolism and Functionality Research, Functionality Evaluation Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Gyeonggi 463-746, Korea.
Byoung-Mok
BM
Kim
Division of Metabolism and Functionality Research, Functionality Evaluation Research Group, Korea Food Research Institute, Gyeonggi 463-746, Korea.
Chang-Ho
CH
Lee
Cynanchum wilfordii; HDL-cholesterol; LDL-cholesterol; atherogenic index; hypercholesterolemia