Comparative Studies on the Hyperlipidemia of Melandrii Herba and Vaccariae Semen

Abstract

Objectives : The present study purposed to compare the effects of Melandrii Herba and Vaccariae Semen, which are used as Wang-Bul-Yu-Haeng(王不留行) with vasodilatory effect in Korea and China, respectively, on hyperlipidemia. Methods : We applied the water extract of Melandrii Herba and Vaccariae Semen to rats with hyperlipidemia induced by high-cholesterol diet and high-fructose diet and evaluated their effects. Results : While Vaccariae Semen had significant effect on the reduction of the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, and the activation of ALT, the application of Melandrii Herba had no significant effect on the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol, neutral fat, and free fatty acid, and the activation of AST. For the rats with hypertriglyceridemia, Vaccariae Semen reduced the levels of neutral fat and total cholesterol, but did not significantly re duce the level of free fatty acid and the activation of AST and ALT. The application of Melandrii Herba did not have any significant effect on the levels of neutral fat, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid, and the ac tivation of AST and ALT, but it increased the level of HDL cholesterol. Conclusion : Vaccariae Semen showed a possibility as a remedy for hyperlipidemia, but Melandrii Herba did not show any significant effect. Thus, based on such a difference in remedial effect between Melandrii Herba and Vaccariae Semen, they need to be distinguished in clinical application.