Effects of Dai-saiko-to (Da-Chai-Hu-Tang) on plasma lipids and atherosclerotic lesions in female heterozygous heritable Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits.

Abstract

We investigated the antihypercholesterolemic effects of traditional Japanese herbal medicine Dai-saiko-to (Da-Chai-Hu-Tang in Chinese) in female heritable Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits. The plasma total cholesterol levels increased for up to 12 weeks after beginning a diet containing 0.1% cholesterol then reached a plateau of about 603 mg dl(-1). Dai-saiko-to was administered at doses of 0.5-1.0 g kg(-1) per day or pravastatin 10 mg kg(-1) per day for 24 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in the groups administered Dai-saiko-to 1.0 g kg(-1) per day or pravastatin for 4-24 weeks, whereas there were no change with plasma phospholipid and triglyceride levels. However, Dai-saiko-to 1.0 g kg(-1) per day significantly decreased plasma LDL cholesterol levels, but had no effect on either VLDL- or HDL-cholesterol levels. Moreover, LDL-receptor mRNA levels in the liver were significantly increased in the Dai-saiko-to 1.0 g kg(-1) per day group compared with those of animals receiving the 0.1% cholesterol diet. In addition, both groups receiving Dai-saiko-to 1.0 g kg(-1) per day and pravastatin showed a significantly reduced percentage of intimal surface area of thoracic aorta involved with atheromatous plaques in the thoracic aorta at 24 weeks. These results indicated that Dai-saiko-to 1.0 g kg(-1) per day significantly decreased the plasma cholesterol levels and atheromatous plaque area due to expression of the LDL mRNA gene in the liver.

• Authors: Fumihiko Yoshie, Akira Iizuka, Yasuhiro Komatsu, Akiyo Matsumoto, Hiroshige Itakura, Kazuo Kondo
• Journal: Pharmacological research (Pharmacol Res) Vol. 50 Issue 3 Pg. 223-30 (Sep 2004) ISSN: 1043-6618 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 15225663 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Plant Extracts
• Triglycerides
• daisaikoto
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Animals
• Arteriosclerosis (blood, drug therapy, pathology)
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (analysis, chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hypercholesterolemia (blood, drug therapy, pathology)
• Plant Extracts (analysis, chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Rabbits
• Triglycerides (blood)