Therapeutic effects of gypenosides on hypercholesterolemia and it protective effect on liver injury

In order to explore the therapeutic effects and preliminary mechanism of gypenosides (GP) on hypercholesterolemia, as well as the protective effect on liver injury induced by high-dose simvastatin and high cholesterol diet (HCD), the hypercholesterolemia model of golden hamster was established by high cholesterol diet. The experimental animals were divided into blank group, model group, GP low and high dose groups (60 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg), simvastatin group (10 mg/kg), and GP high dose combined with simvastatin group (120 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg).The efficacy was investigated through dynamic monitoring serum cholesterol and liver function related indexes after drug treatment of 14 and 23 days. The results showed that GP could significantly reduce the levels of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), increase the level of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and reduce the secretion of PCSK9. It is suggested that GP has a good therapeutic effect on HCD diet-induced hypercholesterolemia hamsters, which may be related to its inhibition of PCSK9 secretion. In addition, GP can significantly ameliorate liver damage caused by HCD diet and high-dose simvastatin. These findings provide a scientific basis and useful reference for the combination of GP and statins to reduce toxicity and increase efficacy.