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

Context: Ephedrae Herba (EH), the dried stems and leaves of Ephedra sinica Stapf., E. intermedia Schrenk et C. A. Mey., or E. equisetina Bge. (Ephedraceae [Ephedra]) is used to treat respiratory diseases. Recently, especially in the Republic of Korea, EH has also been used for weight reduction. Objective: We evaluated the effects and molecular targets of methanol EH extract (EHM) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic ICR mice. Materials and methods: 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. Results: EHM administration for 3 weeks significantly (p Discussion and conclusions: 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.【背景】麻黄（Ephedrae Herba, EH）为麻黄科（Ephedraceae [Ephedra]）草麻黄（Ephedra sinica Stapf.）、中麻黄（E. intermedia Schrenk et C. A. Mey.）或木贼麻黄（E. equisetina Bge.）的干燥茎叶，临床用于治疗呼吸系统疾病。近年来，尤其在韩国，麻黄亦被用于减重治疗。 【目的】本研究评估麻黄甲醇提取物（Ephedrae Herba Methanol Extract, EHM）对高脂饮食（High-Fat Diet, HFD）诱导的高脂血症ICR小鼠的作用及其分子靶点。 【材料与方法】以100 mg/kg体重/日的剂量对小鼠灌胃给予EHM，持续3周。通过检测体重（Body Weight, BW）、总胆固醇（Total Cholesterol, TC）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇及甘油三酯水平，评估高脂饮食造模或EHM给药诱导的生理变化。为评估脂质过氧化与肝毒性，分别检测了丙二醛与血清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EHM的潜在靶点蛋白。 【结果】连续3周给予EHM可显著（P 【讨论与结论】EHM可通过降低高脂血症小鼠的总血脂与甘油三酯水平调节机体高脂血症状态。EHM对小鼠高脂血症具有预防作用，其潜在机制可能与调控DNA修复及能量代谢相关基因与蛋白的表达有关。