Effects of Morus root bark extract and active constituents on blood lipids in hyperlipidemia rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Chinese crude drug Mori Cortex Radicis (the root cortex of Morus species) has been used as a folk medicine to treat hypertension, diabetes, as well as in expectorant, diuretic agents. This investigation aims to study the anti-hyperlipidemia effects of Mori Cortex Radicis (MCR) extracts in hyperlipidemic rat models and the potential therapeutic activities of compounds isolated from the extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The effects of MCR on hypolipidemic parameters were investigated using Wistar rats induced by high-lipid emulsion. Sixty healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal group, hyperlipidaemia model group, simvastatin, and high-, medium- and low-dose MCR extracts. After four weeks, body weight, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high and low-density lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), as well as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. To further investigation, four major active compounds were isolated from extracts through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and their diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) inhibitory activity was evaluated.

RESULTS:

MCR dose-dependently reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, inhibited the activity of ALT, AST, and increased HDL-C. Furthermore, in vitro biochemistry tests revealed that four active isolates showed moderate inhibitory activity against DGAT1 with IC50 values ranging from 62.1 ± 1.2 to 99.3 ± 2.3 µM.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results demonstrated that MCR could effectively ameliorate hyperlipidaemia and inhibit DGAT1 that a key enzyme closely related to hyperlipidaemia and type 2 diabetes. It may provide a new pharmacological basis for treating hyperlipidaemia and related diseases using MCR.

• Authors: Shi-Zhou Qi, Na Li, Zheng-Dong Tuo, Jia-Lin Li, Shan-Shan Xing, Ban-Ban Li, Le Zhang, Hyun-Sun Lee, Jian-Guang Chen, Long Cui
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 180 Pg. 54-9 (Mar 02 2016) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 26806569 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hypolipidemic Agents
• Lipids
• Plant Extracts
• Dgat1 protein, rat
• Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Animals
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Hyperlipidemias (blood, drug therapy)
• Hypolipidemic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Lipids (blood)
• Male
• Microsomes, Liver (metabolism)
• Morus
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Bark
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Roots
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Rats, Wistar