Horm Metab Res 2011; 43(09): 625-630
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1283147
Original Basic
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Decrease of Blood Lipids Induced by Shan-Zha (Fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida) is Mainly Related to an Increase of PPARα in Liver of Mice Fed High-Fat Diet

C.- S. Niu*
1   Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi College of Technology, Hualien City, Taiwan, Republic of China
,
C.- T. Chen*
2   Department of Pediatrics and Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kang, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
,
L.- J. Chen
3   Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
,
K.- C. Cheng
4   Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima City, Japan
,
C.- H. Yeh
5   Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Quei-Jen, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
,
J.- T. Cheng
2   Department of Pediatrics and Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Yong Kang, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
3   Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
5   Institute of Medical Sciences, Chang Jung Christian University, Quei-Jen, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 01 June 2011

accepted 21 June 2011

Publication Date:
05 August 2011 (online)

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Agents for the treatment of hyperlipidemia are well-developed in the clinic while PPARα is a target for lipid-lowering agents. Shan-Zha (Crataegus pinnatifida) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to increase digestion. Also, Shan-Zha fruit extract showed merit to improve obesity and hyperlipidemia in hamsters; however, the mechanism remained obscure. In the present study, hypertriglycemia and hypercholesterolemia were induced by high fat diet in C57BL/6 J male mice. Then, they were orally administered with Shan-Zha fruit extract at an effective dose of 250 mg/kg for 7 days. The liver was removed to estimate the expressions of PPARα and β-oxidation-related enzyme. Oral intake of Shan-Zha extract significantly improved hyperlipidemia in high fat diet-fed mice with an increase of PPARα expression in liver. Also, expression of PPARα-regulated β-oxidation-related enzymes was raised in liver by Shan-Zha extract. However, adipose tissue and others were not modified by this treatment of Shan-Zha fruit extract. Thus, Shan-Zha can increase the expression of PPARα to facilitate β-oxidation-related enzymes in liver for lipid degradation and blood lipid decrement. Also, this is the first report showing Shan-Zha fruit extract can influence liver to lower hyperlipidemia prior to the action in adipose tissue.

*

* These authors contributed equally to this study.


 
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