中藥勻采茶對高膽固醇血症動物模型降低膽固醇之功能評估

THE CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING EFFECT OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE “YUN-CAI-TEA” IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA ANIMAL MODEL

隨著人口的老化，慢性病已成為國人主要的死亡原因，心血管病變相關疾病更是名列前茅，而高膽固醇血症便是導致心血管疾病的一個重要因素。本研究以紫蘇、山楂、烏梅、白扁豆、赤小豆、洛神花等六味藥食同源的藥材製成勻采茶，針對倉鼠的高膽固醇血症動物模型進行實驗。在造症成功後隨機分配倉鼠為勻采茶低劑量組、勻采茶高劑量組與安慰劑組相比較，各餵食四週。實驗前後測定血中三酸甘油脂、總膽固醇、高密度脂蛋白（High density lipoprotein ；HDL ）、低密度脂蛋白（Low density lipoprotein ；LDL ）作為療效評估指標，結果發現血清LDL 含量、總膽固醇上升率、LDL 上升率、LDL/HDL 上升率均較安慰劑組低，而HDL 上升率較安慰劑組為高。其中血清LDL 含量、LDL 上升率、LDL/HDL 上升率均具統計上顯著意義，顯示中藥勻采茶具有降低低密度脂蛋白膽固醇的作用及提升高密度脂蛋白膽固醇的趨勢，而高劑量組的效果更優於低劑量組。但對於三酸甘油脂，低劑量組反呈上升趨勢。勻采茶是否將來可以做為高膽固醇血症預防心血管疾病之參考，則仍需要進一步的臨床實驗加以證實。As the population ages, chronic illness has become a major cause of death in elders in Taiwan. Hypercholesterolemia is an important factor that could lead to cardiovascular disease. In this study, we used the hypercholesterolemia animal model to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effect of Yun-Cai-Tea (YCT), which consists of Folium Perilla, Fructus Crataegi, Fructus Mume, Semen Dolichoris, Semen Phaseoli, and Hibiscus sabdariffa L., ingredients that have been taken as medication and as food by Chinese for centuries. Hamsters with hypercholesterolemia were randomized into three groups: placebo group that receives normal saline, low-dose group that receives low dose of YCT, and high-dose group that receives high dose of YCT. Each group was fed with designated medication for four weeks. Blood samplings were performed before and after the experiment for triacylglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) to measure the effectiveness of the YCT. Our findings indicated that the two study groups showed a lower level of LDL in serum, in addition, the elevation ratio of total cholesterol, the elevation ratio of LDL, and the of elevation ratio of LDL/HDL were all lower than that of the placebo group, whereas the elevation of HDL level was higher than that of the placebo group. Among our findings, the serum LDL level, elevation ratio of LDL, and the elevation ratio of LDL/HDL are of statistical significance. Such results suggest that YCT could decrease the serum LDL level while increase serum HDL level. Moreover, the high- dose group showed better efficacy. However, we also found that the low dose group showed an increase of triacylglyceride level in the serum. Therefore, it still requires further clinical study on YCT to evaluate its value in helping patients with hypercholesterolemia prevent cardiovascular disease.