Abstract
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) is widely used for the treatment of diseases such as hyperlipidemia, fatty liver and obesity in China, and atorvastatin is broadly used as an anti-hyperlipidemia drug. This research focuses on the plasma and liver metabolites in the following four groups of rats: control, a hyperlipidemia model, a hyperlipidemia model treated with GP and a hyperlipidemia model treated with atorvastatin. Using 1H-NMR-based metabonomics, we elucidated the therapeutic mechanisms of GP and atorvastatin. Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) plotting of the metabolic state and analysis of potential biomarkers in the plasma and liver correlated well with the results of biochemical assays. GP can effectively affect lipid metabolism, and it exerts its anti-hyperlipidemia effect by elevating the level of phosphatidylcholine and decreasing the level of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). In contrast, atorvastatin affects hyperlipidemia mainly during lipid metabolism and protein metabolism in vivo.
Highlights
Hyperlipidemia is a systemic disease that impairs the body in a generally unnoticeable, gradual, progressive and systemic way
The Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP) and atorvastatin treatment groups were distributed between the control and hyperlipidemia model groups, indicating that the metabolic profile of hyperlipidemia rats was repaired and the liver metabolites were restored to normal levels after drug treatment
This study demonstrated that the levels of glutamine, acetone, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and acetoacetate increased dramatically, while the levels of valine, isoleucine, alanine, 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, lysine, fumarate, glycogen, phosphatidylcholine and citrate decreased remarkably in the plasma and liver of hyperlipidemia model rats compared to the control group
Summary
Hyperlipidemia is a systemic disease that impairs the body in a generally unnoticeable, gradual, progressive and systemic way. Metabonomics is regarded as another major research focus in addition the fields of genomics and the proteomics It can provide complete biological system information at individual and group levels [10,11]. The discovery of specific biomarkers plays an important role in predicting disease progression, monitoring disease status after drug treatment and especially in clarifying of the mechanisms of action for traditional Chinese medicines [14]. Metabonomics in assessing the effects of GP and atorvastain on hyperlipidemia in rats was evaluated to identify potential biomarkers and reveal the mechanisms of action for both drugs. By comparing the GP and atorvastatin treated groups, we determined the material basis, mechanism and action target of GP and atorvastain, revealing the mechanisms by which both drugs affect hyperlipidemia
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