The effect of paeoniflorin against lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress and lipid metabolism

Paeoniflorin (PF), a monoterpene glucoside, is one of the main bioactive components extracted from paeony root. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a bacterial endotoxin capable of inducing extensive damage to organs, including the liver, because it stimulates increased production of free radicals and boosts lipid peroxidation. LPS induces the synthesis of several inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as NO and inflammation in the liver of rats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of PF in lipid metabolism. PF of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered in rats at a dose of 1.5 mL/kg for 20 days. On day 21, 1.5 mL/kg of LPS was injected 4 hours prior to anesthetization. We examined lipid related functions by measurement of the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), total lipid (TL), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue. Results showed that LPS treatment increased the values of TG, TC, TL, and MDA, and decreased that of HDL-C. However, as a result of PF pretreatment, high values of TG, TC, TL, and MDA were decreased to low values and a low value of HDL-C was increased to a high value. These results suggested that PF might have potential for use as a natural supplement for improvement of lipid metabolism.