title: Effect of Andrographis paniculata Extract on Triglyceride Levels of the Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertriglyceridemia is one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and reduction oftriglyceride (TG) level is recommended in clinical practice guidelines for the treatment. Recently, andrographolide, a main active compound of Andrographispaniculata has been shown to possess hypolipidemic effects in animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the TG-lowering effects of A. paniculata extract (APE) in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥ 150 mg/dL) using gemfibrozil treatment as the reference.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out in sixty subjects with hypertriglyceridemia. They were divided into three groups and treated with low dose of APE (APE-L, andrographolide 71.64-72.36 mg/day), high dose of APE (APE-H, andrographolide 119.64-120.36 mg/day), and gemfibrozil 300 mg/day. The treatments were conducted for 8 weeks. Guidance on lifestyle modifications was provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary endpoint was the mean difference ± SD (95% CI) in TG levels (baseline from the end of treatment), which were -3 ± 125.6 (-59.1, 58.5), 41.6 ± 86.3 (1.2, 82), and 57.1 ± 94.9 (12.7, 101.6) in the APE-L, APE-H, and gemfibrozil groups, respectively. APE-H 120 mg/day and gemfibrozil 300 mg/day caused a significant reduction of TG level (P = 0.0442 and 0.0145, respectively) when compared to the baseline. There was no notable difference in the safety or tolerability among the treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with modest hypertriglyceridemia with lifestyle intervention, APE-H reduced the TG level comparable to the effect of gemfibrozil 300 mg/day. APE treatment was as tolerable as gemfibrozil treatment. Hence, Andrographis paniculata might be used as an alternative medicine in treating hypertriglyceridemic patients.
authors.forename: Kutcharin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phunikhom
authors.forename: Kovit
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khampitak
authors.forename: Chantana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aromdee
authors.forename: Tarinee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arkaravichien
authors.forename: Jintana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sattayasai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D035685:Andrographis; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D015248:Gemfibrozil