Metabolomics Analysis of the Lipid-Regulating Effect of Allium hookeri in a Hamster Model of High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia by UPLC/ESI-Q-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Gwang-Ju Jang,Miyoung Yoo,Haeng Jeon Hur,Sanghee Lee,Jung Hoon Choi,In Koo Hwang,Mi Jeong Sung

doi:10.1155/2018/5659174

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and is a major public health concern. Allium hookeri (AH) is an Allium species containing high levels of bioactive organosulfur compounds such as methiin and cycloalliin. AH exerts hypolipidemic effects in animals fed a high-fat diet. However, there exists little information on the mechanisms underlying these effects. To address this issue, we used a metabolomic approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry to identify factors mediating the lipid-lowering effects of AH. Principal component and partial least-squares discriminant analyses of serum metabolome profiles revealed 25 metabolites as potential biomarkers for the effects of AH on lipid levels. These compounds were predominantly phospholipids, including phosphatidylcholines (PCs), lysoPCs, and lysophosphatidylethanolamines. Glycerophospholipid metabolism was identified as a significantly enriched pathway. These results provide mechanistic insight into the antihyperlipidemic effects of AH and evidence for its efficacy as a therapeutic agent.

Highlights

Hyperlipidemia is a major public health problem and a risk factor for coronary heart disease [1, 2]
A clinical diagnosis of hyperlipidemia is made based on observation of increased levels of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in combination with a reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) [3, 4]
We found that TG, TC, and LDLC levels were decreased in these hamsters relative to controls

Summary

Introduction

Hyperlipidemia is a major public health problem and a risk factor for coronary heart disease [1, 2]. Hyperlipidemia is most often treated with lipid-lowering drugs such as statins and fibrates, though their widespread use is limited by side effects and poor tolerance in some patients [5]. The antioxidant activity of some natural products may effectively improve lipid metabolism and offer an alternate treatment for hyperlipidemia. Natural products such as oat and guar have been shown to decrease the levels of blood lipids, inhibit lowdensity lipoprotein oxidation, and improve abnormal lipid metabolism [2]. Sulfur compounds are the main bioactive constituents of Allium species [7]. It has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and hypolipidemic effects [9, 10] that have been mainly attributed to its organosulfur and phenolic compounds [11]. AH has especially high levels of the sulfur-containing compounds

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion