BackgroundPaeoniflorin is a monoterpene glycoside extracted from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora and is used in Chinese herbal medicine to treat hyperlipidemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an enriched extract of paeoniflorin on cholesterol levels, hemodynamics, and oxidative stress in a hyperlipidemic rat model.Material/MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were fed high-cholesterol diets and treated with three different doses of paeoniflorin for 12 weeks. The effects of paeoniflorin treatment were assessed on cholesterol levels, cholesterol metabolism, red blood cell vascular flow using hemorheology, antioxidant enzymes, and expression of the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR). Rat liver histology and immunohistochemical analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), cytochrome P450 7A1 (CYP7A1), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR)-α. Protein expression HMG-CoAR, low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), PPAR-α and CYP7A1 was measured by Western blotting. Antioxidant activity in rat liver was determined by measuring superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA).ResultsSerum and hepatic cholesterol, hepatic steatosis and the products of cholesterol metabolism were reduced by paeoniflorin treatment, which also reduced the activity of HMG-CoAR and upregulated the expression of LDLR, PPAR-α, and CYP7A1 expression, increased SOD, decreased MDA, and upregulated Nrf2 expression.ConclusionsThe findings of this study in a rat model of hyperlipidemia have shown that paeoniflorin regulates hepatic cholesterol synthesis and metabolism and may also protect the liver from oxidative stress.

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Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for fatty liver, atherosclerosis, hyperviscosily, coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction. In recent years, the incidence of hyperlipidemia was gradually increased and showed younger trend. It has been a research hot point to study the etiology and pathogenesis of hyperlipidemia and develop a new drug reduced blood lipid. It is very important to prepare the animal model of hyperlipidemia for displaying the advantage of traditional Chinese medicine characteristic. However, the success of replicating animal model of hyperlipidemia is one of the key of research in experimental hyperlipidemia. The ideal animal model of hyperlipidemia should be similar to human disease, high repeatability, simple and high generalization. It will affect the reliability of the results and the accuracy of the whole experiment process to copy successfully animal models of hyperlipidemia. This review focused on the recent research progress on copying methods of animal models of experimental hyperlipidemia, which will provide reference and basis for the hypolipidemic developers who choose rationally and effectively replication methods of hyperlipidemia animal models.

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