ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC AND ANTIATHEROSCLEROTIC ACTIONS OF SHOSAIKOTO (KAMPO MEDICINE)

We investigated the anti-atherosclerotic action shown by Shosaikoto, a Kampo medicine, using hypercholesterolemic mice, Oral administration of Shosaikoto significantly suppressed the elevation of serum choleste rol in C57BL/6 mice fed a 1.25% cholesterol-enriched diet for four wee ks and improved the T cell ratio in peripheral blood, which decreased with the increase of the serum cholesterol level, In addition, Shosaik oto reduced the accumulation of cholesteryl oleate,,which alters macro phages into foam cells, after the treatment of macrophages with oxidiz ed or acetylated low density lipoprotein (LDL). Enzymatic study reveal ed that the treatment of macrophages with oxidized LDL enhanced acyl-c oenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity and markedly re duced neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase (NCEase) activity, Shosaikot o treatment prevented a decrease in the NCEase activity, however due t o the oxidized LDL treatment, although it slightly augmented ACAT acti vity, Thus, Shosaikoto, which is known to modulate the immune system, improves macrophage and lymphocyte functions diminished by hypercholes terolemia, resulting in an anti-atherosclerotic action.