Comparative effects of crude drugs on serum lipids.

Abstract

Aqueous extracts of leaves of Nelumbo nucifera, (Nymphaeceae), Kayo, leaves and stems of Lonicera japonica (Caprifoliaceae) Nindo and stems of Akebia quinta (Lardiazabalaceae) Mokutsu were administered to rats loaded with a high fat diet containing 1.5% cholesterol and 1.0% cholic acid in order to screen the hypocholesterolemic activity of these crude drugs. The animals were kept on the diet for 5 d [days], and then crude drug extract, equivalent to the human dose (.times. 1) and higher doses (.times. 10, .times. 25), was orally administered. Changes of total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), cholesterol ester (CE), free and ester cholesterol ratio (Ratio), triglycerides (TG), phospholipid (PL) and free fatty acids (NEFA) were examined. Significant decreases in serum TC, FC and PL were observed in the high fat-loaded groups given these crude drugs. TC in the liver did not show any reduction in the groups receiving Kayo, Nindo and Mokutsu as compared with the high fat-loaded control group. The overall effects in suppressing serum lipids elevation were in the order of Nindo > Mokutsu > Kayo.