Abstract: The saponins from Gynostemma Pentaphylla have significant effects on reducing blood lipid,however,the mechanism is not clear.The C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into three groups,including normal diet group (ND),high fat diet group (HFD),and gypenosides group (HFD+GP).Mice in HFD and HFD+GP group were fed with high fat diet for 38 weeks,and treated with 0.1% CMC-Na and gypenosides (250 mg/kg) respectively,from 16 weeks to 38 weeks.In ND group,mice were fed with normal diet for 38 weeks.At the end point,serum and liver tissue were collected.Mice livers were observed by HE staining.Serum TC and LDL-C levels were measured by commercially available kit.Bile acid metabolic profile was quantified by UPLC-MS/MS.Quantitative real-time-PCR was applied to analyze mRNA expression levels of Cyp7a1,Cyp8b1,Fxr,Shp,Lrh1 and Hnf4α genes.Gypenosides significantly decreased serum TC and LDL-C levels.The hepatic levels of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA),glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA),and glycodesoxycholic acid (GDCA) were decreased,but those of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA),deoxycholic acid (DCA),and taurodeoxycholic acid (TDCA) were increased.The gene expression levels of Cyp7a1,Cyp8b1,Fxr and Lrh1 were up-regulated by gypenosides.However,the level of Shp was down-regulated.The potential therapeutic targets of gypenosides may be genes involved in bile acids regulation.

Key words: gypenosides, bile acid metabolic profile, hyperlipidemia