Abstract: Objective To study effects of Physalis alkekengi water extraction on blood lipid levels of experimental rats with hyperlipidemia.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups:a normal group,a hyperlipidemia model group and low-,medium-,and high-dose Physalis alkekengi treatment groups.The rats in the four groups other than the normal group were fed with high fat feedstuff;the rats in the three treatment groups were gavaged with Physalis alkekengi water extraction at the doses of 1.5,7.5,and 37.5g/kg once a day continuously for 30 days.Then serum triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low density lipo-protein cholesterol(LDL-C) were detected and liver indexes were determined for all the rats.Results The TG contents of the rats in the three of Physalis alkekengi treatment groups were 0.42±0.08,0.44±0.11,and 0.39±0.09 mmol/L,respectively and were all lower than that in the model group(0.56±0.16 mmol/L)(all P<0.05),whereas the contents of TC,LDL-C,and HDL-C in the treatment groups were not significantly different compared to those in the model group(all P<0.05).The average liver indexes of the three Physalis alkekengi treatment groups were lower than that of the model group(all P<0.05).Conclusion Physalis alkekengi water extraction could reduce blood lipid at a certain extent in rats.