Preventive effect of traditional herbal formulae against experimental hypercholesterolemia in rats with special reference to blood lipoprotein cholesterol levels

To investigate the effect of traditional herbal formulae (Zhong Yao) against experimental hypercholesterolemia, we assayed serum lipoprotein levels and hepatic function in rats administered herbal formulae under cholesterol rich diet. Two kinds of herbal formulae; prescription 1 (Bupleurum chinense and other 9 kinds of herbs) and 2 (Camellia sinensis and other 5 kinds of herbs) were prepared. All of 35 rats were separated into 4 groups, group P fed under cholesterol rich diet for 15 days and administered the prescriptions for 2 days, group Q administered the prescriptions for 17 days under the same diet, group R fed under the same diet but no prescriptions, and group S fed under regular diet. In rats administered prescription 1, serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in group Q were preserved as well as standard group S. Such a preservation was not observed under administration of prescription 2. Regarding choleretic function, serum total bilic acid levels measured in group P were extremely increased when prescription 1 was administered for only 2 days after stopping the cholesterol rich diet. In study on telomerase activity of liver extracts to assess hepatocyte function, significantly higher level of activity was noted in group Q administered prescription 1. From these results, it was suggested that prescription 1 had much preventive effect against hypercholesterolemia in rats, probably due to its choleretic function. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.