Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of Schisandra chinensis lignans (SCL) on hyperlipidemia induced
by high-fat diet in mice. Methods: Among 60 male C57BL/6 mice, 30 mice were randomly divided into normal control
group (CON) and normal + SCL group (CON + SCL 100 mg/kg) of 15 animals each and fed with normal diet. The rest of
the mice were fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks. After the hyperlipidemic mouse model was successfully established, the
mice were randomly divided into model group (Model) and SCL-treated group (Model + SCL 100 mg/kg). All mice were
intragastrically administrated with corresponding agents for 12 weeks. Then, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in serum were detected and the
atherosclerosis index (AI) was calculated. The ratio of lipid to body weight, and TC and TG levels in liver tissue were determined.
Results: Compared with the normal control group, TC, TG and LDL-C concentrations in serum, AI and lipid/body weight ratio
and TC and TG concentrations in liver tissue were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and HDL-C concentration was reduced in
the model group. TC, TG and LDL-C contents, AI and lipid/body ratio and TC and TG in liver tissue were decreased (P < 0.01
or P < 0.05), and HDL-C was elevated in mice treated with SCL compared with those in the model group. Conclusion: SCL can
reduce fat mass in hyperlipidemic mice, suggesting its therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia.

Key words: Schisandra chinensis, lignans, hyperlipidemia, cholesterol, C57BL/6 mice