Celastrus Orbiculatus Thunb. Reduces Lipid Accumulation by Promoting Reverse Cholesterol Transport in Hyperlipidemic Mice

Abstract Previously, we found that Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (COT) decreases athero-susceptibility in lipoproteins and the aorta of guinea pigs fed a high-fat diet, and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In the present study, we investigated the effect of COT in reducing lipid accumulation and promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in vivo and vitro. Healthy male mice were treated with high-fat diet alone, high-fat diet with COT (10.0 g/kg/d), or general fodder for 6 weeks. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-C, non-HDL-C, and 3H-cholesterol in plasma, liver, bile, and feces were determined. Pathological changes and the levels of TC and TG in liver were examined. The expression of hepatic genes and protein associated with RCT were analyzed. COT administration reduced lipid accumulation in the liver, ameliorated the pathological changes, and lessened liver injury, the levels of TG, TC, and non-HDL-C in plasma were decreased significantly, and COT led to a significant increase in plasma HDL-C and apolipoprotein A (apoA1). 3H-cholesterol in plasma, liver, bile, and feces was also significantly increased in COT-treated mice compared to controls. Both mRNA and protein expression of SRB1, CYP7A1, LDLR, ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCA1, ABCG5, and LXRα were improved in COT-treated mice. An in vitro isotope tracing experiment showed that COT and its bioactive ingredients, such as celastrol, ursolic acid, oleanol...
Source: Lipids - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research