The Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Eryngium carlinae F. Delaroche Are Mediated by the Involvement of the Intestinal Transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by a high concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Eryngium carlinae is a medicinal plant used to treat lipid diseases. The goal of this work was to evaluate, in a model of hypercholesterolemia in mice, the hypocholesterolemic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of E. carlinae and its main metabolite, D-mannitol. Biochemical analyses of serum lipids and hepatic enzymes were performed by photocolorimetry. We performed histopathological studies of the liver and the expression of the intestinal cholesterol transporters Abcg5 and Abcg8 was determined by standard western blot method. Our results showed that hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 100 mg/kg and D-mannitol at doses of 10 mg/kg reduced the concentration of both total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, without altering the concentration of HDL cholesterol and without damage to hepatocytes. Treatment with the extract increased Abcg8 intestinal transporter expression, while D-mannitol decreased the expression of the two Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group. Considering that Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters perform cholesterol efflux, our results demonstrate that the lipid-lowering effect of the hydroalcoholic extract may be associated with the increase of Abcg8 expression, but the hypocholesterolemic effect of D-mannitol is independent of overexpression of these intestinal transporters and probably they have another mechanism of action.

Current Progress Regarding Cordyceps militaris, Its Metabolite Function, and Its Production

“…Mannitol (10 mg/kg BW) demonstrated hypolipidemic effects in hypercholesterolemic mice that were comparable to those of ezetimibe (10 mg/kg BW), without inducing liver damage or impacting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels [30].…”

Ethnobotany, Biological Activities and Phytochemical Compounds of Some Species of the Genus Eryngium (Apiaceae), from the Central-Western Region of Mexico

“…Regarding active metabolites, Castro-Torres et al (2017) [ 53 ] determined the hypocholesterolemic activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of E. carlinae and demonstrated the presence of hexa- O -acetyl- d -mannitol and its acetylated derivatives by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The authors concluded that mannitol promoted osmotic diuresis, which may favor cholesterol transport, preventing it from accumulating in enterocytes and the development of hypercholesterolemia; in this sense, mannitol-based drugs are used to promote diuresis (before irreversible renal failure) and urinary excretion of toxic substances as an antiglaucoma agent, and as an aid in the diagnosis of renal function [ 54 ].…”

“…D-mannitol found in E. carlinae was evaluated in a model of hypercholesterolemia in mice, and a chronic toxicity test was performed. The mice did not show evident signs of toxicity (e.g., lack of motor coordination, piloerection, or pupil dilation) after receiving doses of 100 and 500 mg/kg of the extract for 4 weeks [ 53 ].…”

Eryngium Species as a Potential Ally for Treating Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes

“…Another study, showed that E. carlinae extract reversed the phenomenon of lipid peroxidation in diabetic mice, reducing the effect of oxidation stress that diabetes can cause due to insulin resistance ( 9 ). Regarding the transporters ABCG5/ABCG8, the consumption of E. carlinae in diabetic people increases the levels of both transporters, which would improve the disposal of cholesterol in patients, but more research is needed in this area ( 49 ). As discussed earlier, the aerial parts of Eryngium are normally consumed as an infusion to obtain the benefits of the plants.…”