Effect of Ephedrae Herba methanol extract on high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidaemic mice

<b>Context:</b> Ephedrae Herba (EH), the dried stems and leaves of <i>Ephedra sinica</i> Stapf., <i>E. intermedia</i> Schrenk et C. A. Mey., or <i>E. equisetina</i> Bge. (Ephedraceae [Ephedra]) is used to treat respiratory diseases. Recently, especially in the Republic of Korea, EH has also been used for weight reduction. <b>Objective:</b> We evaluated the effects and molecular targets of methanol EH extract (EHM) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic ICR mice. <b>Materials and methods:</b> EHM was orally administered (100 mg/kg body weight/day) for 3 weeks. We observed changes in body weight (BW), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol, and triglycerides to evaluate the physiological changes induced by HFD or EHM administration. To evaluate lipid peroxidation and liver toxicity, malondialdehyde and blood alanine aminotransferase levels were measured. In addition to analyzing liver gene expression profiles, EHM target proteins were identified using a protein interaction database. <b>Results:</b> EHM administration for 3 weeks significantly (<i>p</i> <b>Discussion and conclusions:</b> EHM regulated hyperlipidaemia by decreasing total blood lipid and triglyceride levels in hyperlipidaemic mice. EHM showed preventive effects against hyperlipidaemia in mice, possibly via the regulation of DNA repair and the expression of energy metabolism-related genes and proteins.

<b>背景:</b> 麻黄（Ephedrae Herba, EH）为草麻黄（*Ephedra sinica* Stapf.）、中麻黄（*E. intermedia* Schrenk et C. A. Mey.）或木贼麻黄（*E. equisetina* Bge.）（麻黄科（Ephedraceae [Ephedra]））的干燥茎叶，临床常用于治疗呼吸系统疾病。近年来，尤其在大韩民国，EH亦被应用于减重干预。<b>目的:</b> 本研究评估了麻黄甲醇提取物（methanol EH extract, EHM）对高脂饮食（high-fat diet, HFD）诱导的高脂血症ICR小鼠的作用效果与分子靶点。<b>材料与方法:</b> 以100 mg/kg体重/日的剂量对小鼠灌胃给予EHM，持续干预3周。通过检测小鼠体重（BW）、总胆固醇（TC）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇与甘油三酯水平，以评估高脂饮食造模与EHM给药所诱导的生理变化。为评估脂质过氧化与肝毒性，本研究检测了丙二醛与血液丙氨酸氨基转移酶水平。除分析肝脏基因表达谱外，本研究还通过蛋白质相互作用数据库鉴定了EHM的靶蛋白。<b>结果:</b> 连续3周灌胃给予EHM可显著（<i>p</i> <<b>讨论与结论:</b> EHM可通过降低高脂血症小鼠的总血脂与甘油三酯水平改善脂质代谢紊乱，对小鼠高脂血症具有预防作用。其潜在机制可能与调控DNA修复通路以及能量代谢相关基因和蛋白质的表达有关。