Summary of Common Hypolipidemic Drugs and Foodstuffs with Same Origin
February 01, 2024
According to the 2017 China Cardiovascular Report, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in China has continued to rise in recent years. It is estimated that there are currently about 290 million cases in China, and cardiovascular diseases account for the leading cause of death among urban and rural residents. Hyperlipidemia is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The following is a review of the functional components and pharmacological mechanisms of several medicinal and edible homologous plants in lowering blood lipids. The current development status and problems of medicinal and edible homologous plants in lowering blood lipids in foods are analyzed and summarized, in order to provide reference for the research and development of such foods.
01
Kudzu root
Kudzu root is a common medicinal and edible plant, which is the dry root of wild kudzu in the legume family. Its water-soluble solid contains about 12% of flavonoids, including daidzein, daidzein, and puerarin. The main effective ingredients for lowering blood lipids in Pueraria lobata are isoflavones, among which puerarin is one of the most important functional components. Research has found that the application of puerarin can antagonize the toxic effects of excitatory amino acids, reduce nerve cell damage, and can be used to treat ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. Studies have shown that Gegen capsule has an auxiliary effect on reducing blood lipids in hyperlipidemia patients. After 30 days of continuous administration of Gegen capsule, the levels of TC and TG were significantly reduced, and the level of HDL-C had no significant change. Deng Zuyue et al. injected puerarin (50mg/kg) into the abdominal cavity of hyperlipidemia rats, and found that puerarin significantly reduced the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C in the plasma of hyperlipidemia rats, increased HDL-C, and reduced atherosclerosis index, Thus, it has the effect of lowering blood lipids.
Puerarin can achieve various mechanisms in the liver, including increasing LDL absorption, reducing cholesterol synthesis, and potentially enhancing cholesterol degradation, ultimately leading to a lipid-lowering effect. 02
dandelion
Dandelion belongs to the Asteraceae family of plants, with high medicinal value. All herbs can be used as medicine, containing dandelion sterols, dandelion sterols, dandelion saponins, caffeic acid, choline, inulin and other ingredients. It has pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti hyperglycemia, and anti hyperlipidemia. Zhao Jianhua et al. prepared dandelion health drink using dried dandelion as raw material. The results showed that the serum TG and TC of hyperlipidemia model mice were significantly reduced, while HDL-C was significantly increased. Animal experiments have shown that dandelion drink has a lipid-lowering effect. The main effective ingredient of dandelion in reducing blood lipids is chlorogenic acid. Wang Yuejiao et al. found through their study on the effect of dandelion decoction on blood lipid levels in a mouse model of hyperlipidemia that dandelion decoction has the effect of lowering blood lipids, significantly reducing TC and significantly increasing HDL-C, but its effect on TG and LDL-C is not significant. Research has found that dandelion extract can significantly reduce TG in mice and effectively increase HDL-C, with a certain ability to lower blood lipids. 03
Mulberry leaves
Mulberry leaves are the dried leaves of the mulberry family plant, which are rich in phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and steroid compounds. Mulberry leaves have the effect of "ginseng heat nourishment, mulberry leaves clear nourishment". The molting hormone in mulberry leaves can promote production, promote protein synthesis in the human body, eliminate cholesterol in the body, and lower blood lipids. It was found that flavonoids in mulberry leaves can inhibit the formation of atherosclerosis and increase serum lipids in hyperlipidemia. The main components of mulberry leaf extract are quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin, which have the activity of reducing blood lipids, clearing free radicals in the body, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Using TritonWR-1399 to induce acute hyperlipidemia in mice and hyperlipidemia in rats, it was found that total flavonoids of mulberry leaves (MTF) can reduce TC, TG, LDL-C in the plasma of hyperlipidemia mice and rats, and increase HDL-C, effectively preventing the occurrence and development of hyperlipidemia. 04
Cassia seed
Cassia seed is the mature and dried seed of the leguminous plant Cassia minor or Cassia seed. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Cassia seed has effects such as lowering blood lipids and blood pressure. Its effective lipid-lowering ingredients are anthraquinone compounds in Cassia seed, such as obtusin, hesperetin, obtusin glycoside, obtusin glycoside, and daidzin. Feng Yanping found that orange yellow cassia extract is the main effective ingredient in cassia seeds to control patient blood lipid levels. A study was conducted on 114 patients with hyperlipidemia, and it was found that serum TC, TG, and LDL-C significantly decreased and HDL-C levels increased after taking Cassia seed powder. In clinical practice, Yishou Jiangzhi tablets, mainly composed of cassia seed, were used to treat 130 patients with hyperlipidemia. The results showed that 87.0% of patients had a significant decrease in serum TC, and 80.8% of patients had a significant decrease in TG levels. Cassia seed has a lipid-lowering effect. Yen et al. found that both cassia seed protein and anthraquinone components can significantly reduce TC, TG, and LDL-C in hyperlipidemic rats, but further separation and research are needed to determine which type of lipid-lowering protein it belongs to. 05
hawthorn
Hawthorn, also known as Shan Li Guo or Shan Li Hong, is the dry and mature fruit of the Rosaceae plant Shan Li Hong. Rich in active ingredients such as glycosides, flavonoids, and hawthorn acid, hawthorn promotes digestion and treats indigestion. Hawthorn also has health benefits such as antioxidant, lipid-lowering, anti-tumor, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Li Haigui et al. found that total triterpenoid acids and hawthorn flavonoids in hawthorn can significantly reduce serum TCH and increase the ratio of HDL/TCH in mice, and their effects are related to their increase in HDL percentage and SOD activity. The main components of triterpenoid acids in hawthorn are oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. Hawthorn triterpenoid acid can significantly reduce the levels of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and LDL, with a significant lipid-lowering effect; When used alone, oleic acid and ursolic acid have certain effects on VLDL, LDL, and TC, but the combined use has a more significant effect. It was found that hawthorn pectin pentasaccharides can significantly reduce TC and LDL-C. A certain dose of total flavonoids from hawthorn leaves can reduce serum and liver TG and TC in hyperlipidemic rats, and effectively improve fat accumulation, proving that total flavonoids from hawthorn leaves have the effect of lowering blood lipids and have preventive and therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia and fatty liver caused by high-fat diet. 06
Yam
Yam, also known as yam, Huai yam, Huaishan, etc., is the dry rhizome of the plant Dioscorea in the family Dioscoreaceae. Yam contains various chemical components with medicinal and health functions, such as yam polysaccharides, allantoin, choline, dioscin and its glycosides, dioscin, yam alkaloids, sterols, and other active ingredients. It also contains a chemical substance with a structure similar to dehydroepiandrosterone. Dehydroepiandrosterone is known as the "mother of hormones", which can enhance the human immune system, improve memory, and regulate nerves (sedation, sleep) Prevent bone and muscle aging, lower blood lipids, prevent arteriosclerosis, etc. The formulations currently used in clinical practice, such as Xiaoke Wan and Liuwei Dihuang Wan, all contain yam. A mouse model of hyperlipidemia was established by feeding mice with hyperlipidemic feed. Four types of yam decoction from different regions were fed separately. After 10 consecutive days, it was found that the TG and TC of Huaishan yam, Huaishan yam, and Huaishan yam in Guangxi were significantly reduced, but there was no significant change in TG and TC of Huaishan yam in Guangdong. Gao Qiyu and others showed that yam polysaccharide can effectively reduce blood sugar and blood lipid of alloxan diabetes mice, help to recover the body of diabetes mice, and maintain the normal level of TC, TG and HDL in the body. 07
Perilla frutescens
Perilla, also known as Gui EBA, Bai Su, Chi Su, etc., is the dried leaves of Perilla in the family Lamiaceae. It contains active ingredients such as sterols, flavonoids and their glycosides, monoterpenes, triterpenes and their glycosides, lignans, and organic acid phenolic glycosides. The Compendium of Materia Medica records that "promoting qi circulation, clearing phlegm and promoting lung function, harmonizing blood, warming the middle, relieving pain, calming asthma, and promoting fetal growth.". Perilla leaves have the effects of relieving external coldness, promoting lung and resolving phlegm, promoting qi and calming the middle, calming pregnancy, and detoxifying fish and crabs; Perilla seeds have the effects of reducing qi, reducing phlegm, relieving asthma, and moistening the intestines; Perilla stem has the effects of regulating qi, relieving miscarriage, and promoting blood circulation. The mice with hyperlipidemia were divided into four groups and orally administered 10ml/(kg · d) of physiological saline and 3, 6, and 9g/(kg · d) of perilla water extract for 6 weeks. The experiment found that perilla water extract can effectively reduce TC, TG, and LDL-C in the serum of hyperlipidemia mice, increase HDL-C in the serum, and increase the activity of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase in the serum and liver of mice, Inhibiting the activity of malondialdehyde, among which high-dose perilla water extract has the best lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects. In perilla oil α- Linoleic acid can effectively lower blood lipids. Li Yongli et al. found that adding perilla oil to feed can reduce TG and TC in mouse serum, proving that perilla seed oil has a certain preventive effect on lowering blood lipids. 08
lotus leaf
Lotus leaves are the dry leaves of the water lily family plant lotus, rich in alkaloids and flavonoids such as lotus alkaloids, proto lotus alkaloids, and lotus alkaloids. They have significant lipid-lowering effects, can regulate blood lipids, inhibit bacteria, antioxidant, hemostasis, and inhibit lipase. It was found that the water extract of lotus leaves can significantly reduce TC and TG levels, while increasing HDL-C levels. Taking rats fed with high-fat feed as the research object, after continuous feeding of lotus leaf extract for 25 days, the TC value significantly decreased compared to before the experiment. The experiment showed that lotus leaf extract has the effects of reducing serum cholesterol and weight loss. Hawthorn Hongqu Heye Decoction can inhibit the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in rats, and has a certain role in preventing atherosclerosis caused by hyperlipidemia. 09
Radish seed
Raphanzi, also known as radish seed, Luobaizi, Caitouzi, etc., is a dry and mature seed of radish in the Brassicaceae family. It has various pharmacological effects such as asthma relief, cough suppression, expectorant, antioxidant, blood pressure lowering, blood lipid lowering, antibacterial, enhancing gastrointestinal motility, and improving the urinary system. In the experiment, 38 patients with hyperlipidemia were treated with roasted radish seeds orally, and it was found that the decrease rate of TG was 50%, and the decrease rate of TC was 38%. Among them, 6 patients with high blood pressure showed a decrease after treatment. 0.5g of radish seed capsules was used to treat patients with hyperlipidemia. After one month of follow-up at the hospital, blood lipids and other indicators decreased to normal. Mustard alkaloids in radish seeds have a significant effect on reducing blood lipid levels. Wistar rats were continuously gavaged with high-fat emulsion for 5 days. After 28 days of blood collection, it was found that compared with the model group, the TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C of the low, medium, and high dose groups of mustard alkaloids were significantly reduced. The water-soluble alkaloids of Semen Raphani are the main effective ingredients of Semen Raphani in reducing blood lipids. Studies have shown that their water-soluble alkaloids have been proven to have a lipid-lowering effect on high-fat diet mice. Li Tieyun et al. found that water-soluble alkaloids from Semen Raphani can significantly increase serum SOD activity in rats and reduce MDA, thereby achieving the goal of lowering blood lipids through antioxidant effects. 10
Coix seed
Coix seed is the seed of the Poaceae plant Coix, also known as Coix seed, Coix seed, or Liuguzi. Coix seed has various pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, and enhancing the body's immunity. The polysaccharides contained in Coix seed are active ingredients for lowering blood lipids. Yu et al. found that water-soluble polysaccharides in Coix seed can significantly reduce the levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C in experimental animals, thereby achieving the goal of lowering blood lipids. The hyperlipidemia rat model was established by feeding the animals with high cholesterol and lipid diet. It was found that the ethanol extract of Coix lachryma seed could significantly reduce the levels of TC and LDL-C in the serum of rats, and had the effects of reducing atherosclerosis and blood lipids. 11
Red yeast
Red yeast rice, also known as Danqu, is fermented by inoculating rice to form a purple red color. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, strengthening the spleen and reducing food intake, and reducing turbidity and fat. Red yeast is a natural lipid-lowering and blood pressure lowering drug, and is also one of the frequently used raw materials in SFDA registered auxiliary lipid-lowering health foods. The new lipid-lowering drug "Lezhiping" developed by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences using red yeast as raw material has a therapeutic effect comparable to statin based lipid-lowering drugs developed by American companies. It is called "Chinese statin" in foreign countries. Red yeast has been found to significantly reduce TC, TG, and LDL-C in the serum of quails with hyperlipidemia, and has the effect of lowering blood lipids. Further research has found that the active ingredient for reducing blood lipids in red yeast is lovastatin. In human trial studies, it was found that lovastatin extracted from red yeast has the effect of reducing TC and TG, indicating that red yeast capsules have a significant effect on regulating blood lipids.
