Abstract: Objective: To investigate the effect of total organic acid from wild apricot (TOAWA) on blood lipids and to explore the hypolipidemic mechanism of TOAWA in hyperlipidemic rats. Methods: A rat model of hyperlipidemia was established by orally feeding high-fat emulsion. Rats administered with Xuezhikang, a hypolipidemic agent were used as a positive control group. Commercial kits were employed to measure blood lipids and apolipoprotein. The mRNA expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) in liver were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the effect of TOAWA on blood lipids and pathological changes in liver was evaluated. Furthermore, the hypolipidemic mechanism of TOAWA was explored. Results: TOAWA could significantly decrease the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P < 0.01) and apoprotein B (Apo-B) (P < 0.05), and increase the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P < 0.05), apoprotein A-1 (ApoA-I) and ApoA-I/Apo-B ratio in the serum of hyperlipoidemic rats (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression levels of PPAR-α and LDL-R were decreased in the liver of hyperlipidemic rats compared with normal ones, and they were increased by intervention with TOAWA. Besides, the degree of hepatic steatosis was alleviated by TOAWA. Conclusion: TOAWA can decrease blood lipid levels in hyperlipoidemic rats by altering the level of apolipoprotein in serum and upregulating the mRNA expression levels of PPAR-α and LDL-R in liver and improving liver function.

Key words: total organic acids from wild apricot, hyperlipidemia, blood lipids, hypolipidemic mechanism