Effect of in utero exposure of Toddy (coconut palm wine) on liver function and lipid metabolism in rat fetuses

Beneficial Effects of Red Yeast Rice on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, and Fatty Liver in Mice

Obesity is a common cause of hyperlipidemia, which is a major coronary risk factor. Previous studies have shown red yeast rice (RYR) effectiveness in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RYR on obesity and hyperlipidemia. Mice were randomly separated into five groups: the control group with a normal diet, the high-fat diet (HFD) group fed a HFD without any treatment, and HFD-fed groups supplemented with RYR (1 g/kg/day for 8 weeks, 1 g/kg/day for 12 weeks, and 2.5 g/kg/day for 8 weeks). Body weight was recorded twice and food intake thrice weekly. Liver and fat pads were surgically removed and weighed. The levels of lipid parameters, liver enzymes, and leptin levels were measured. The HFD feeding resulted in obesity, which was associated with increases in body weight, liver weight, fat pad weight, liver enzymes, and plasma leptin levels with the development of hyperlipidemia. RYR prevented weight gain and fat pad weight in mice fed a HFD. RYR alleviated blood lipid parameters, liver enzymes, and leptin levels, and improved atherogenic index. These findings suggest that RYR has therapeutic potential in treating obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Effect of polycan, a β-glucan originating from Aureobasidium, on a high-fat diet-induced hyperlipemic hamster model

The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of polycan, a β-glucan originating from Aureobasidium, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipemia and hepatic damage. A total of 30 hamsters were divided into 6 groups based on their body weight following acclimatization: control, sham, simvastatin (SIMVA) and 3 Polycan groups. In the polycan groups, Polycan, at three concentrations (31.25, 62.5 and 125 mg/kg), was administered orally once a day for 56 days, in addition to the HFD. On the day of sacrifice, changes in the body weight, food consumption, liver weight and serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride and total cholesterol (T-CHOL) were observed, as well as changes to the liver and aorta (thoracic and abdominal) histopathology and histomorphometry. The results from the polycan groups were compared with a SIMVA 10 mg/kg oral treatment group, in addition to the sham and vehicle control groups. After the HFD-induced hyperlipidemic hamsters were administered Polycan, there was no significant change in their body weight and food consumption when compared with the hamsters in the vehicle control group. However, the serum levels of AST, ALT, triglyceride, T-CHOL and LDL were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner when compared with the vehicle control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the levels of liver steatosis and arteriosclerosis in the abdominal and thoracic aorta were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). In the SIMVA-treated group, body weight (P<0.05), the serum level of lipids (triglyceride, T-CHOL and LDL; P<0.01) and the level of arteriosclerosis (P<0.01) were significantly reduced when compared with the vehicle control group. However, liver weight and the serum levels of AST, ALT, and liver steatosis increased when compared with the vehicle control group. Based on these results, it was concluded that polycan exerts a favorable effect in decreasing HFD-induced hyperlipemia and associated atherosclerosis, with relatively good protective effects on liver damage.

Hypolipemic effect of water extracts of Picrorrhiza rhizoma in PX-407 induced hyperlipemic ICR mouse model with hepatoprotective effects: a prevention study

The preventive hypolipemic effect of water extract of Picrorrhiza rhizoma (PR) was observed in Poloxamer (PX)-407 induced hyperlipemic mice with their hepatoprotective effects. Doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of PR extracts were given orally once a day for 12 weeks initiated with intraperitoneal injection of PX-407 (0.5 g/kg), and changes in body weight and gains, liver weight, serum aspartate transferase (AST) and alanine transferase (ALT) levels were monitored with serum low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. The efficacy of PX-407 was compared to that of 10mg/kg of simvastatin (SIMVA). No meaningful changes in the body weight were detected in all dosing groups compared to that of vehicle control group. Dramatic decrease of both absolute and relative liver weight was dose-dependently observed in all PR extracts dosing groups compared to that of vehicle control group. The serum AST and ALT levels were significantly and dose-dependently decreased in PR extracts dosing groups. However, slight increase of liver weight, serum AST and ALT levels were detected in SIMVA-dosing groups. The serum LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were dose-dependently decreased in PR extracts dosing groups and SIMVA-dosing group compared to that of vehicle control group, respectively. The serum HDL levels were slightly but dose-dependently increased in PR extracts dosing groups compared to that in vehicle control group, respectively. However, the efficacy on the serum lipid levels of PR extracts was lower than that of SIMVA-about 200 mg/kg of PR extracts which showed similar effect compared to that of SIMVA 10mg/kg. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that water extract of PR has a relatively good favorable preventive effect on the PX-407 inducing hyperlipemia with favorable hepatoprotective effect.