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Planta Med 2016; 82(08): 690-697
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1568261
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hypolipidemic Effects of Alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis in Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Hamsters

Kai He
1   Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center for the Modernization of Chinese Traditional Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
2   Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hunan University of Medicine, Hunan, China
,
Shuming Kou
3   School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
,
Zongyao Zou
1   Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center for the Modernization of Chinese Traditional Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
,
Yinran Hu
1   Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center for the Modernization of Chinese Traditional Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
,
Min Feng
1   Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center for the Modernization of Chinese Traditional Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
4   College of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing, China
,
Bing Han
3   School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
,
Xuegang Li
1   Chongqing Productivity Promotion Center for the Modernization of Chinese Traditional Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
,
Xiaoli Ye
3   School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 04 March 2015
revised 16 December 2015

accepted 17 December 2015

Publication Date:
05 February 2016 (online)

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Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the antihyperlipidemic activity of five major alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis using high-fat- and high-cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemic hamsters. Hyperlipidemic hamsters were treated with coptisine, berberine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, epiberberine, and total Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids with a dose of 46.7 mg/kg × day for 140 days. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total bile acids were examined after alkaloid treatment. The results showed that all therapy agents prevented body weight gain, reduced the serum total cholesterol, and increased the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of hamsters. Berberine, jatrorrhizine, and total Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids decreased the triglyceride level in hyperlipidemic hamsters, while coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, and total Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids significantly suppressed the elevation of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. The fecal excretion of bile acids was significantly elevated by berberine, coptisine, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, total Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids, and orlistat. Notably, total Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids possess a much stronger lipid-lowering effect than the pure Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids could retard the synthesis of cholesterol by downregulating the mRNA expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase and accelerate the clearance of lipids by upregulating the low-density lipoprotein receptor, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, and uncoupling protein-2 expression. These findings highlight the critical role of Rhizoma Coptidis alkaloids in hyperlipidemia treatment. Thus, they need to be considered in future therapeutic approaches.

Key words

Rhizoma Coptidis - Ranunculaceae - alkaloids - hyperlipidemic hamsters - antihyperlipidemic - mechanism

Supporting Information

 

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