Emodin, a Naturally Occurring Anthraquinone Derivative, Ameliorates Dyslipidemia by Activating AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats

Table 2

Changes in the plasma lipids, atherogenic index (AI), and coronary artery index (CRI) in HFD-fed rats receiving 8-weeks treatment with emodin or pioglitazone.

Groups	Plasma levels (mg dL^−1)					AI	CRI
	TC	TG	LDL-c	HDL-c	FFAs
RCD-fed
Vehicle	72.9 ± 5.8^b	56.8±6.6^b	31.8±3.2^b	46.9 ± 3.4^b	28.2±2.8^b	0.7 ± 0.3^b	1.6±0.4^b
HFD-fed
Vehicle	130.2±12.3	128.5±6.3	120.2±4.2	27.8±3.8	61.9±5.3	4.3±0.2	4.7±0.3
Emodin (mg kg^−1 per day)
40	99.6 ± 8.3^a	95.0 ± 5.2^a	74.3 ± 5.1^b	39.1±2.9^a	47.1±3.8^a	1.9 ± 0.1^b	2.5 ± 0.3^b
80	89.1 ± 7.9^a	80.3±4.8^b	68.1 ± 4.5^b	43.9±3.2^b	38.7±3.2^b	1.6±0.1^b	2.0 ± 0.3^b
Pioglitazone (20 mg kg^−1 per day)	80.2±8.0^b	65.6±4.7^b	48.4 ± 4.3^b	45.9±4.4^b	33.2±4.1^b	1.1±0.2^b	1.7 ± 0.4^b

Emodin or pioglitazone was dissolved in distilled water for oral administration at the desired doses in a volume of 2 mL kg⁻¹ once a day into HFD-fed rats. The vehicle (distilled water) used to dissolve the tested medications was given at the same volume. Values (mean ± SEM) were obtained from each group of 8 animals in each group after 8 weeks of the experimental period. ^a𝑃<.05 and ^b𝑃<.01 compared to the values of vehicle-treated HFD-fed rats in each group, respectively.