OBJECTIVE

To comparatively study the effects of Rhubarbs from different regions on blood lipid and antioxi dation of hyperlipidemia rats.

METHODS

Male rats were randomly divided into 9 groups ( n = 8) and fed with high-fat diet to replicate the hyperlipidemia model. Meanwhile, Rheum tanguticum was administrated intragastrically at two doses (3.0 g/kg and 1.0 g/kg), once a day for continuous 28 days. The effects of Rheum tanguticum planted in Gannan (RT-GN), Rheum tanguticum planted in Xinin (RT-XN) and Rheum plmatum planted in Lixian (RP-LX) were evaluated through detecting the parameters of blood lipids, blood viscosity and antioxidant system.

RESULTS

T-GN, RT-XN and RP-LX in the range of 1.0-3.0 g/kg could decrease the blood levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in blood. Besides, they could reduce blood viscosity, increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) level and upregulate the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Interestingly, their effects on blood viscosity was obviously in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the effects of RT-GN on LDL, MDA and blood viscosity were not significantly different from those of RT-XN and better than those of RP-LX.

CONCLUSIONS

The RT has better hypolipidemic effects than the RP, but RT-GN and RT-XN are not different from the above effects.