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Hypoglycemic and Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Coptis chinensis Franch Inflorescence

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Abstract

Hypocholesterolemic and hypoglycemic activities of Coptis chinensis franch inflorescence (Coptis inflorescence) were studied using animal models. Serum total and LDL cholesterol of rats fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid increased, as compared with those of rats fed a normal diet. The level of total and LDL cholesterol were reduced markedly in a dose dependent manner, in rats given Coptis inflorescence extract orally at doses of 0.25, 0.5 g/kg.day for 4 weeks. In diabetic rats induced by alloxan, Coptis inflorescence extract showed a significant (p < 0.05) blood sugar lowering activity at all experimented doses (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 g/kg.day). The highest reduction of blood sugar was about 58% when the rats were given Coptis inflorescence extract orally at a dose of 0.5 g/kg.day for 3 weeks. The 100 g dried water extract of Coptis inflorescence contained 8.11 g total alkaloid, 3.34 g berberin, 1.08 g palmatine and 0.66 g jatrorrhizine, which had long been identified as active compounds in Coptis chinensis franch root (Coptis root). Thus, the results suggest that Coptis inflorescence would be effective in the prevention and management of coronary artery disease by lowering serum cholesterol and blood sugar.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank Dr. Rotimi Aluko (Department of Human Nutritional Science, University of Manitoba) for his constructive critique of the manuscript. This study was supported by China Scholarship Council (granted number: NSCIS No. 23110003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry institute of Pharmaceutical Resource, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400716, People’ Republic of China

    LUJIANG YUAN & DAWEI TU

  2. School of Life Scinece, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    XIAOLI YE

  3. Department of Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada

    JIANPING WU

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  1. LUJIANG YUAN
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  2. DAWEI TU
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Correspondence to LUJIANG YUAN.

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YUAN, L., TU, D., YE, X. et al. Hypoglycemic and Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Coptis chinensis Franch Inflorescence. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 61, 139–144 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-006-0023-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-006-0023-7

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