Dr.Steve's BOTTOM LINE: High cholesterol is a significant problem, although not the only reason for cardiovascular disease. Keeping cholesterol in a normal range involves diet, exercise and....sometimes your doctor tells you to consider statin pharmaceuticals. Always listen to your doctor, but while you are working on weight reduction and an exercise program (you ARE doing that right?)...you may be tempted to check out what might work in the alternative herbal world. What might help and what is hype?

A Chinese herbal extract FuZi, also known as Aconiti Tuber, Autumn Monkshood, Blue Monkshood Root, Chuan-wu, Monkshood, Monkshood Tuber, Wolfsbane, has a reputation for "unclogging arteries" as one of its medicinal properties. This laboratory study in rats shows why this may be the case, providing a plausible scientific basis or reason to consider human clinical trials. On a warning note, this is an herbal that can have some very significant side effects, so DO NOT just start unsupervised experimentation! However, if you are so inclined, of all the herbals out there, this is based in some scientific evidence. Always consult a health care provider experienced in this area and remember.... this is why ultimately clinical trials are required (not just rat studies or anecdotes & testimonials).....to prove not just what works and what doesn't in humans, but also to determine safety and proper doses.

Polysaccharide from Fuzi (FPS) prevents hypercholesterolemia in rats.

Lipids Health Dis. 2010 Jan 28;9(1):9

Authors: Huang X, Tang J, Zhou Q, Lu H, Wu Y, Wu W

ABSTRACT: Background and aim: Polysaccharide from fuzi (FPS), a Chinese herbal medicine extract, has been demonstrated to exert lipid lowering affects. In this study we examined potential mechanisms underlying this affect, specifically alterations in expression of the LDL-receptor (LDL-R), 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase and cytochrome P450 7alpha-1 (CYP7alpha-1), using a rat model of hypercholesterolemia. Methods and results: Male rats were fed either a normal or high cholesterol (HC) diet for two-weeks. Half of the rats on the HC diet were orally gavaged with FPS (224 mg/kg, 448 mg/kg or 896 mg/kg diet) daily. Serum lipid levels were quantified at end of the study period as were liver levels of LDL-R protein and mRNA expression of CYP7alpha-1 and HMG-CoA. Serum cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations were significantly elevated from control in HC rats, but not in those treated with FPS (P<0.05). LDL-R expression was significantly decreased in the HC group compared to control (P<0.05), but significantly increased in the FPS group (P<0.05). HMG-CoA mRNA levels were significantly increased in the HC group compared both other groups (P<0.05), while CYP7alpha-1 expression was significantly higher in the FPS group compared to both other groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the cholesterol lowering effect of FPS in hypercholesteremic rats is caused at least in part by increased hepatic LDL-R and CYP7alpha-1 expression and decreased HMG-CoA expression. Further study is needed to determine precisely where and how FPS exerts these effects. FPS offers potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

PMID: 20109183 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]