In Vitro Screening for Determining the Optimal Ratio of Components of the Erzhi Pill for Reducing Intracellular Cholesterol and Triglycerides

The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal ratio of components of the Erzhi Pill for inducing hypolipidemia in vitro. The primary components of the Erzhi Pill consist of the total saponins of eclipta and total triterpenoid acid of Fructus ligustri lucidi (FLL). We purified the two extracts and obtained a 50% purity of total saponins of eclipta and total triterpene acids of FLL for subsequent in vitro experiments. We used the human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line, HepG2 cells, since they are commonly used to study the effects of compounds on hypolipidemia. HepG2 cells were cultured in DMEM medium with high levels of TC and TG. The experimental groups consisted of a blank control group, positive medicine group (simvastatin), Erzhi Pill group, xuezhikang group and different ratios of the total saponins of eclipta to total triterpenoid acid of FLL. Finally, we collected and lysed cells, and then we determined the content of cholesterol and triglyceride in cells. All of the experimental groups exhibited hypolipidemic effects. The levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in cells were the lowest and the hypolipidemic effect was the greatest when the ratio of the total saponins of eclipta to total triterpenoid acid of FLL was 1:1. We determined the hypolipidemic effects of different proportions of the total saponins of eclipta and total triterpenoid acid of FLL, which may further guide future research and development for the use of the Erzhi Pill in inducing hypolipidemia.