Effects of Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix (SMR) on Serum Lipid Level in Hyperlipidemic Rats

단삼(丹蔘)이 고지혈증 흰쥐의 혈중 지질 변화에 미치는 영향

Objective : Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix (SMR) has widely used to treat patients with cardiovascular diseases such as coronary arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris and hyperlipidemia. This study was designed to investigate the effects of SMR on changes in serum cholesterol and protective effects on liver tissue damage in Hyperlipidemic rats. Methods : The present author investigated changes in serum glucose, cholesterols, AST/ALT and histopathological changes of liver tissue by oral administration of SMR in Rats. Results : In this study, body weights of hyperlipidemic rats induced high fat diet did not changed, and treatment with SMR did not affect body weights in hyperlipidemic rats. For experimental period, Food and Water uptake in SMR administered group were the same as those in hyperlipidemic control group. In this experiment, treatment with SMR decreased total cholesterol and AST in serum which elevated by high fat diet respectively. In addition, SMR administration protected liver tissue from damage induced by induction of hyperlipidemia. Conclusions: These results suggest that SMR is useful to treat patients with disease related to cardiovascular diseases including hyperlipidemia, because SMR can decrease cholesterol and AST in serum and also have non-specific protective effect on tissues including liver.