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Herb Side Effect
Artemisia scoparia
Scoparone (6,7-dimethoxycoumarin, a coumarin) is an
important ingredient of Artemisia scoparia, a traditional
Chinese herbal medicine. Test-tube studies have shown its
vaso-dilating, anti-cancer and antioxidant activities. [1,2] In a
study of hyperlipidaemic diabetic rabbits, scoparone treated
diabetic rabbits had a less advanced atherosclerosis and a
lowered cholesterol level, compared to the placebo group. [1]

Chamomile
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L., Chamomilla recutita L.,
Matricaria chamomilla) has been used as herbal medicinal
tea for years. Chamomile is a good source of several
phenolic compounds, primarily the flavonoids apigenin,
quercetin, patuletin, luteolin and their glucosides. Its essential
oil extract contains terpenoids alpha-bisabolol and its oxides
and azulenes, including chamazulene. Test-tube studies
showed it has moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial
activities, and significant antiplatelet activities. While, animal
studies showed its anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic,
cholesterol-lowering, antispasmotic and anxiolytic effects.  
[11]

Coptidis rhizome
The accumulation of amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) derived
from amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a triggering event
leading to the pathological cascade of Alzheimer's disease
(AD); therefore the inhibition of Abeta production should be a
rational therapeutic strategy in the prevention and treatment
of AD.

Coptidis rhizome is a popular Chinese traditional herbal
medicine. One of its major active ingredients is berberine. It
is believed that berberine has many health benefits. Basic
studies have shown that it has antidiarrheal, antimicrobial,
and anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, it may also have
cholesterol-lowering effects and help prevent neuronal
damage due to ischemia or oxidative stress.

In a cell study, Japanese researchers reported that berberine
reduced amyloid-beta peptide levels by modulating its
precursor protein. High levels of amyloid-beta peptide is
known to be associated with Alzheimer's disease. [12]

Erica multiflora L. (Ericaceae) flowers
Intragastric administration of Erica multiflora extract (0.25
g/100g body weight) to hyperlipidaemic rats caused a
significant decrease on their plasma lipid levels (quantified
by enzymatic kits). [13]

Garlic
Researchers from Universitat Berlin, Deutschland consider
garlic as a herbal remedy which is able to reduce
total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and fibrinogen
levels but improve HDL-cholesterol. , It may also lower
arterial blood pressure, promote organ perfusion, and, inhibit
platelet aggregation. [5]

Ginseng is one of the most popular herbal remedies.
Researchers found that administration of ginseng in
anaesthetized rats resulted in a reduction of bile flow and in
bile secretion of total lipids and cholesterol, while it
increased the secretion of proteins in a dose-dependent
manner. [6]

Guabiroba
An infusion of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg.
(Myrtaceae) leaves (Guabiroba) and the herb Cuphea
carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. (Lythraceae)
(Sete-sangrias) is traditionally used in the South of Brazil to
treat high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Chronic
treatment with the Guabiroba aqueous extract induced a
significant reduction in weight gain in the rats, compared to
the control group, but it had no significant effects on the levels
of cholesterol and triglycerides. [10]

Gymnema sylvestre,
In a study of spontaneously hypertensive rats fed with starch,
sugar, or sugar diet, intake of gymnema sylvestre led to a
significant decrease in cholesterol levels. But, the
researchers also found an increase in systolic blood
pressure in these lab animals. [4]

Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino
Extracts from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino
(Cucurbitaceae), a Southeast Asian herb, has been reported
to affect numerous activities resulting in antitumor,
cholesterol-lowering, immunopotentiating, antioxidant, and
hypoglycemic effects. A study of rats showed it may also
benefit glucose intolerance. [9]

Han-Dan-Gan-Le
Researchers claimed that Han-Dan-Gan-Le (or
Handanganle) could effectively reverse chemically induced
liver fibrosis in rats by stimulation of hepatic collagenolysis.
Han-Dan-Gan-Le is a Chinese herb preparation composed
of Stephaniat tetrandra, Salvia miltorrhiza, Radix paeoniae,
Astragalus membranaceus, and Ginkgo biloba.  [7]

Hibiscus sabdariffa L.
Hibiscus sabdariffa L., a soft drink ingredient and a Chinese
herbal medicine, is believed to have benefits on
hypertension, pyrexia, and liver disorders. In rabbits, oral
administration of extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa reduced the
triglyceride, cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. It also
reduced severe atherosclerosis in the aorta of the animals. [8]

Huanglian
Studies have identified berberine (BBR), an alkaloid isolated
from the Chinese herb huanglian, as a unique
cholesterol-lowering drug that upregulates hepatic low
density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) expression through a
mechanism of mRNA stabilization. [15]

Ocimum basilicum
Ocimum basilicum is one of the medicinal plants widely used
in Morocco to reduce plasma cholesterol and to reduce the
risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases. Oral administration
of aqueous Ocimum basilicum extract in hyperlipidaemic rats
reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol
levels by 56%, 63% and 68% respectively. [14]

Salvia miltiorrhiza
Antioxidants that prevent LDL from oxidation may reduce
atherosclerosis. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is a Chinese herb;
its root contains salvianolic acid B. Salvianolic acid B has
been found is able to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
radicals and inhibit LDL oxidation more effectively than
probucol. In a 12 weeks study of rabbits, researchers
showed that it could also lower the cholesterol deposition in
the thoracic aorta by 50%. [3]

Sete-sangrias
An infusion of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg.
(Myrtaceae) leaves (Guabiroba) and the herb Cuphea
carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. (Lythraceae)
(Sete-sangrias) is traditionally used in the South of Brazil to
treat high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Chronic
treatment with the Sete-sangrias aqueous extract induced a
significant reduction in plasma cholesterol in rats. However, it
had no effect on glucose and triglyceride levels in these
animals in the study. [10]

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2007. THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY.
IT IS RISKY TO TAKE A HERBAL PRODUCT WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH A DOCTOR.

[1] Chen YL, et al, Morphological evidence for the antiatherogenic effect of scoparone
in hyperlipidaemic diabetic rabbits. Cardiovasc Res. 1994 Nov;28(11):1679-85. [2] Hoult
JR, Paya M. Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple coumarins: natural
products with therapeutic potential. Gen Pharmacol. 1996 Jun;27(4):713-22. [3] Wu YJ,
et al, Increase of vitamin E content in LDL and reduction of atherosclerosis in
cholesterol-fed rabbits by a water-soluble antioxidant-rich fraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza.
Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 1998 Mar;18(3):481-6. [4] Preuss HG, et al, Comparative
effects of chromium, vanadium and gymnema sylvestre on sugar-induced blood pressure
elevations in SHR. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998 Apr; 17(2):116-23. [5] Siegel G, et al, Pleiotropic
effects of garlic Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(8-10):217-24. [6] Salam OM, et al,
The effect of ginseng on bile-pancreatic secretion in the rat. Increase in proteins and
inhibition of total lipids and cholesterol secretion. Pharmacol Res. 2002
Apr;45(4):349-53. [7] Li C, et al, The collagenolytic effects of the traditional Chinese
medicine preparation, Han-Dan-Gan-Le, contribute to reversal of chemical-induced liver
fibrosis in rats. Life Sci. 2003 Feb 21;72(14):1563-71. [8] Chen CC et al, Hibiscus
sabdariffa extract inhibits the development of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits J
Agric Food Chem. 2003 Aug 27;51(18):5472-7. [9] Norberg A, et al, A novel
insulin-releasing substance, phanoside, from the plant Gynostemma pentaphyllum. J Biol
Chem. 2004 Oct 1;279(40):41361-7. Epub 2004 Jun 25. [10] Biavatti MW, et al,
Preliminary studies on Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Berg.) and Cuphea carthagenensis
(Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. aqueous extract: weight control and biochemical parameters. J
Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Aug;93(2-3):385-9. [11] McKay DL, Blumberg JB. A review of the
bioactivity and potential health benefits of chamomile tea (Matricaria recutita L.).
Phytother Res. 2006 Jul;20(7):519-30. [12] Asai M, et al, Berberine alters the processing
of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein to decrease Abeta secretion. Biochem Biophys
Res Commun. 2007 Jan 12;352(2):498-502. Epub 2006 Nov 15. [13] Harnafi H, et al, The
hypolipidaemic activity of aqueous Erica multiflora flowers extract in Triton WR-1339
induced hyperlipidaemic rats: a comparison with fenofibrate. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007
Jan 3;109(1):156-60. Epub 2006 Sep 24. [14] Amrani S, et al, Hypolipidaemic activity of
aqueous Ocimum basilicum extract in acute hyperlipidaemia induced by triton WR-1339
in rats and its antioxidant property. Phytother Res. 2006 Dec;20(12):1040-5. [15] Abidi P,
et al, The medicinal plant goldenseal is a natural LDL-lowering agent with multiple
bioactive components and new action mechanisms. J Lipid Res. 2006
Oct;47(10):2134-47. Epub 2006 Aug 2.