This study aimed to evaluate the
cholesterol-lowering effect of
epiberberine in
dyslipidemia Syrian golden hamsters induced by high fat and high
cholesterol (HFHC) diet and its regulation mechanism on some key genes involved in
cholesterol metabolism. Hamsters were divided into six groups: normal control group (NC), HFHC group,
simvastatin (Sim) and three doses of
epiberberine group. The
body weight, organs weight and serum
lipid levels, as well as total
cholesterol (TC) and total
bile acids (TBA) levels in liver and feces were determined. Furthermore, the antidyslipidemia effect of
epiberberine on key genes involved in
cholesterol biosynthesis, uptake, conversion and elimination such as
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR),
low density lipoprotein receptor (
LDL receptor), 7-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and
apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) were investigated. The results showed that
epiberberine at high dosage significantly reduced serum TC,
low density lipoprotein cholesterol (
LDL-c) and TBA levels by 20.2%, 22.3% and 43.8%, respectively, and increased TBA and TC levels in feces.
Epiberberine inhibited HMGCR
mRNA and
protein expressions and slightly reduced the
protein level of ASBT, as well as dramatically up-regulated
mRNA and
protein expressions of CYP7A1 and
LDL receptor. These findings suggested that the antidyslipidemia effects of
epiberberine can be achieved via inhibiting the synthesis of
cholesterol, promoting the uptake and conversion of TC in liver and increasing the excretion of TC and TBA in feces. Thus,
epiberberine should be considered as one of the promising natural drugs for the treatment of
dyslipidemia.