Study on the effect of hypericin in reducing plasma cholesterol levels in mice
TONG Tong
SUN Jiaying
SHI Yannan
SHAO Ying
YANG Lijun
Abstract：Objective:To intestigate the ability and mechanism of action of hyperoside in reducing plasma total cholesterol levels through in vitro and in vivo experiments.Methods:The mice model with hypercholesterolemia was established by feeding them high-fat and high-cholesterol chow,the hypericin intervention group and positive control group received different doses of hyperoside and lovastatin by gavage for 8 weeks.The changes in weight of the mice in each group were recorded.The content of serum cholesterol related indicators in mice were measured.The pathological changes and lipid accumulation of hepatic tissues and the uptake capacity of the hepatocytes for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)was observed.The abundance of low density lipoprotein receptor(LDLR)proteins in the hepatocytes and hepatic tissues was detected after the intervention of hyperoside.Results:The mice model of hypercholesterolemia was successfully established.Compared to the hypercholesterolemia model group,the mice of hypericin intervention group showed a significant decrease in blood total cholesterol(TC)levels(P<0.05),and low-density hypericin intervention group showed a significant decrease in LDL-C(P<0.05).The hepatic tissues of mice in the hypercholesterolemia model group exhibited a large number of vacuolated steatosis,and the hepatocytes were sparse and disorganized.The hepatic tissues steatosis and the number of lipid droplets was significantly reduced in the hypericin intervention group compared to thehypercholesterolemia model group.The vitro experiments showed that hyperoside significantly increased TC levels and LDL-C content in hepatocytes(P<0.01),promoted LDL-C uptake in hepatocytes and increased abundance of LDLR in hepatocytes and hepatic tissues of mice(P<0.01).Conclusions:Hyperoside may promote the uptake of LDL-C in the hepatic tissues of mice by increasing the abundance of LDLR,thereby reducing the plasma total cholesterol levels of mice.
Keywords：hypericinhypercholesterolemiaedible and medicinal plantsEMPstotal cholesterollow-density lipoprotein cholesterollow density lipoprotein receptor
Publication Date：2025-03-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：7( 947-953 )