Cyanchum wilfordii Extract Exerts Regulatory Effect on Cholesterol

by | May 6, 2019 | 2019, Blood Lipids, Botanicals, Cardiovascular Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Cynanchum wilfordii ethanolic extract at both low and high doses significantly reduced total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein levels in subjects with high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

cardiovascularHyperlipidemia involves a dysregulation of lipids in the blood, namely higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Subsequent accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries can cause restricted blood flow, which in turn, increases risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events 1. In traditional Asian medicine, Cyanchum wilfordii (CW) has been utilized in the treatment of various diseases 2, its various chemical compounds (cyanandione A, bungeisides-C, p-hydroxyacetophenone 3 being associated with not only anti-inflammatory effects 4, but also with the modulation of carcinogenic processes 5 and the prevention of ischemic stroke. Animal studies have also linked CW to the attenuation of fat accumulation caused by a high-fat, high-sugar diet 6, and the ethanolic extract of CW has been shown to increase HDL-C and prevent hypertension in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet 7. The effects of CW on lipid metabolism in human subjects, however, have yet to be explored. Therefore, in a 2019 study 8 published in Nutrients, researchers in Korea evaluated the impact of CW ethanolic extract on the cholesterol levels of subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia.

A total of 74 subjects (mean age= 57.9 +/- 0.5 years) with LDL-C levels ≥ 130mg/dL and triglyceride (TG) levels < 300 mg/dL were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel trial in which they were randomly allocated to ingest either a low-dose (300 mg/d) or high-dose (600 mg/d) of CW (dried powder extracted with 70% alcohol) or matching placebo daily for 8 weeks. At baseline and at the end of the study, fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed to determine LDL-C, TG, total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein B (apoB, primary protein in LDL) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP, involved in the regulation of plasma lipoprotein).

At the end of 8 weeks, LDL-C and TG levels showed significant reduction in the low-dose CW group, relative to placebo (p = 0.022 for both parameters). In a subgroup of subjects with high-level LDL-C (≥ 150mg/dL at baseline), those treated with CW (both low-dose and high-dose) showed significant reduction in TC levels (p = 0.012, p = 0.021, respectively), relative to placebo, after 8 weeks. High-level LDL-C subjects receiving CW treatment also exhibited significant decreases in apoB (low-dose p = 0.022, high-dose p = 0.016, respectively) and CETP (low-dose p = 0.037, high-dose p = 0.016, respectively). In the low-level LDL-C subgroup (< 150mg/dL at baseline), apolipoproteinA1 (component of HDL) levels were found to be higher, compared to placebo (p = 0.028). Finally, in both low-dose and high-dose CW groups, but not placebo, there was a significant negative correlation between changes in TC and baseline LDL-C levels (low-dose r = -0.516, p = 0.010; high-dose r = -0.471, p = 0.015).

Consistent with findings from animal research, CW extract was shown in the current study to effectively regulate cholesterol levels in individuals with high LDL-C levels. Correlational analyses indicated that subjects with higher LDL-C levels at baseline experienced greater improvement in lipid profile, with both high and low dosage levels of CW significantly improving TC, apoB, and CETP levels in high LDL-C subjects. Findings provide initial evidence suggesting that CW may be a beneficial supplement for supporting healthy cholesterol levels in individuals with hypercholesterolemia. A notable limitation of the current study, however, is its relatively small sample size. Future studies are needed to replicate findings in a larger pool of subjects, and it would be beneficial to examine the efficacy of CW alongside an active comparator like a statin or another herbal drug with cholesterol-lowering properties.

Source: Youn, Ji Sun, Young Min Ham, Weon-Jong Yoon, Ho-Chun Choi, Ji Eun Lee, Belong Cho, and Ji Yeon Kim. “Cynanchum wilfordii Etanolic Extract Controls Blood Cholesterol: A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Trial.” Nutrients 11, no. 4 (2019): 836.

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted May 6, 2019.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.
 

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