Chinese medicine preparation SUB885C cuts CETP activity 74% and raises HDL-C in ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice (PLoS One 2012)

Original title: Lipidomics reveals multiple pathway effects of a multi-components preparation on lipid biochemistry in ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice

PLoS One · 1 January 2012 · 4

Wei H, Hu C, Wang M, van den Hoek AM, Reijmers TH, Wopereis S, Bouwman J, Ramaker R, Korthout HA, Vennik M, Hankemeier T, Havekes LM et al.

Researchers used lipidomics to evaluate SUB885C, a multi-components Chinese Medicine preparation developed for metabolic syndrome, in ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice with mild hypercholesterolemia, comparing it with the cannabinoid receptor 1 blocker rimonabant. Without causing weight loss, SUB885C significantly reduced plasma cholesterol (-49%, p<0.001), CETP levels (-31%, p<0.001), and CETP activity (-74%, p<0.001), and increased HDL cholesterol (+39%, p<0.05), affecting cholesterol ester and triglyceride lipid classes most. Rimonabant induced weight loss (-9%, p<0.05) but only modestly improved lipid profiles, and SUB885C extract stimulated adipolysis and inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells in vitro. The authors conclude SUB885C produces anti-atherogenic lipid changes comparable to known drugs, illustrating the value of lipidomics for finding new metabolic-syndrome interventions.

Original abstract

Background: Causes and consequences of the complex changes in lipids occurring in the metabolic syndrome are only partly understood. Several interconnected processes are deteriorating, which implies that multi-target approaches might be more successful than strategies based on a limited number of surrogate markers. Preparations from Chinese Medicine (CM) systems have been handed down with documented clinical features similar as metabolic syndrome, which might help developing new intervention for metabolic syndrome. The progress in systems biology and specific animal models created possibilities to assess the effects of such preparations. Here we report the plasma and liver lipidomics results of the intervention effects of a preparation SUB885C in apolipoprotein E3 Leiden cholesteryl ester transfer protein (ApoE*3Leiden.CETP) mice. SUB885C was developed according to the principles of CM for treatment of metabolic syndrome. The cannabinoid receptor type 1 blocker rimonabant was included as a general control for the evaluation of weight and metabolic responses.

Methodology/Principal Findings: ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice with mild hypercholesterolemia were divided into SUB885C-, rimonabant- and non-treated control groups. SUB885C caused no weight loss, but significantly reduced plasma cholesterol (-49%, p<0.001), CETP levels (-31%, p<0.001), CETP activity (-74%, p<0.001) and increased HDL-C (39%, p<0.05). It influenced lipidomics classes of cholesterol esters and triglycerides the most. Rimonabant induced a weight loss (-9%, p<0.05), but only a moderate improvement of lipid profiles. In vitro, SUB885C extract caused adipolysis stimulation and adipogenesis inhibition in 3T3-L1 cells.

Conclusions: SUB885C, a multi-components preparation, is able to produce anti-atherogenic changes in lipids of the ApoE*3Leiden.CETP mice, which are comparable to those obtained with compounds belonging to known drugs (e.g. rimonabant, atorvastatin, niacin). This study successfully illustrated the power of lipidomics in unraveling intervention effects and to help finding new targets or ingredients for lifestyle-related metabolic abnormality.

Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.