Yonsei Med J.  2010 Jul;51(4):504-510. 10.3349/ymj.2010.51.4.504.

The Influence of Sam-Chil-Geun (Panax Notoginseng) on the Serum Lipid Levels and Inflammations of Rats with Hyperlipidemia Induced by Poloxamer-407

• Joo IW
• Ryu JH
• Oh HJ

• KMID: 1805186
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2010.51.4.504

Abstract

PURPOSE
Atherosclerosis is characterized by the progressive deposition of lipids and inflammatory process. We attempted to develop a chemically-induced hyperlipidemic mice model, using poloxamer-407 and evaluated the lipid lowering and anti-inflammatory effect of P. notoginseng compared with that of atorvastatin, an antihyperlipidemic drug.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100). After 3 weeks, we measured serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, interleukin (IL)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels, and reports of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2 & intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) appearances in each group.
RESULTS
After 3 weeks, serum cholesterol levels significantly decreased in P + ST and P + NG40 groups. Significant decrease of LDL level was only noted in the P + ST group. P + ST, P + NG40, and P + NG100 also had decreased serum triglyceride levels; however, P + ST and P + NG40 showed no statistical difference of the triglyceride lowering effect. The results of IL-1 and TNF-alpha and the appearance of COX-2 and ICAM were statistically not different in each group.
CONCLUSIONS
P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg showed significantly lowering effects on serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. We suggest a well-designed study showing the effects of regulating blood lipids with combined administration of P. notoginseng and statin-drug.

Keyword

Panax notoginseng; atorvastatin; total cholesterol; LDL-cholesterol; HDL-cholesterol; triglyceride; IL-1; TNF-alpha; COX-2; ICAM

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Serum total cholesterol levels in each group. Without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (*p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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  Fig. 2 Serum HDL-cholesterol levels in each group. Without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). ANOVA, analysis of variance.

• 

  Fig. 3 Serum LDL-cholesterol levels in each group. Without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (*p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). ANOVA, analysis of variance.

• 

  Fig. 4 Serum triglyceride levels in each group. Without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (*p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). ANOVA, analysis of variance.

• 

  Fig. 5 IL-1 (A), TNF-α (B) levels in each group. Without any intervention (Normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (p< 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). IL-1, interleukin-1; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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  Fig. 6 Immunohistochemical COX-2 stained slides in each group (×400). Without any intervention (normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). COX-2, cyclo-oxygenase-2; ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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  Fig. 7 Immunohistochemical ICAM stained slides in each group (×400). Without any intervention (Normal), poloxamer 500 mg/kg i.p. (P), poloxamer plus atorvastatin 1.34 mg/kg p.o. (P + ST), poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 40 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG40), and poloxamer plus P. notoginseng 100 mg/kg p.o. (P + NG100) (p < 0.05, ANOVA & post-hoc). ICAM, intercellular adhesion laboratories; ANOVA, analysis of variance.

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