Objective : Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix is a medical herb that has been used in Korean medicine for anti-inflammatory and pain-killing. And it has antioxidant effects and anti-hyperlipidemic effects.
This study is aimed to compare the changes in antioxidant capacity and effects in anti-hyperlipidemia effect in induced hypercholesterolemic rats fed high cholesterol diet, of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix by steaming process.

Methods : I compared the free radical scavenging activities of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix (AR0), Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix with 6 times steaming process (AR6) and Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix with 9 times steaming process (AR9). And I caompared the contents of polyphenol and flavonoid between AR0, AR6, AR9.
The SD rats were divided into six groups: normal diet (N), high cholesterol diet (Veh), high cholesterol diet plus simvastatin 5 ㎎/㎏ (Sim), high cholesterol diet plus AR0 extract 200 ㎎/㎏ (AR0), high cholesterol diet plus AR6 extract 200 ㎎/㎏ (AR6) and high cholesterol diet plus AR9 extract 200 ㎎/㎏ (AR9). I measured TC, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c contents and ROS from each serums and compared them. I analyzed antioxidant-related protein expressions and cholesterol-related protein expressions in each liver tissues. I also performed optical microscopic analysis through liver tissue staining.

Results : In vitro, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, polyphenol contents and flavonoid contents were highest in AR9. In vivo, AR0 decreased liver weight in hyperlipidemic rats. TC, TG, LDL-c, AI and CRF were decreased but HDL-c was increased in AR0. AST, ALT, creatinine, and BUN were decreased in AR0. ROS was decreased in AR0, AR6, and AR9. SOD, catalase and GPx were decreased by steaming processes. p-AMPK was decreased but SREBP-2, p-ACC, and HMGCR were increased by steaming processes. Liver staining showed a decrease in hepatic fat accumulation in AR0. AR0 showed significant results in in vivo experiments.

Conclusion : The antioxidant activity of Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix was increased by steaming processes. On the other hand, AR0 showed significance anti-lipid effects and improved fatty liver on hyperlipemia induced rats fed high cholesterol diet. And liver function and renal function were also improved in AR0. In conclusion, AR0 could be used effectively as a treatment for hyperlipidemia instead of statins. And it is required to research on antioxidant effect changes among different times steamed Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix.