Effects of Physalis alkekengi water extraction on liver and blood lipid levels of rats with high fat diet

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.