Shandong Science

   

Analysis of the lipid-lowering activity and mechanism of Betukladin based on a zebrafish model

DU Xingshuo a, ZHAN Wen a, GAO Songying a, SUN Changgao b, XU Mingxian b, ZHANG Sichen b, LI Hongliang b, XIA Qing a, HE Qiuxia a, b*   

  1. (a. Shandong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Zebrafish Models of Human Diseases and Drug Screening, Institute of Biology;b. High-Tech Industry (Pilot Test) Base, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences),Jinan 250103, China)
  • Received:2025-08-20 Accepted:2025-09-24 Online:2026-01-20
  • Contact: HE Qiuxia E-mail:heqx@ sdas.org

Abstract: Betukladin is a dietary supplement composed of reindeer lichen powder and birch bark extract, possessing various pharmacological activities such as blood glucose regulation, lipid lowering, anti-inflammatory effects, and anticoagulation. This study investigates the lipid-lowering activity and underlying mechanism of Betukladin, aiming to validate its efficacy and provide a scientific basis for developing safe and economical natural lipid-lowering drugs. Using a zebrafish hyperlipidemia model, we found that Betukladin significantly improved the elevated Oil Red O staining integrated optical density values, triglyceride levels, and total cholesterol levels induced by high-fat modeling, indicating its lipid-lowering activity. Network pharmacology analysis suggested that Betukladin may exert its lipid-lowering effects through multiple coordinated pathways, including lipid and atherosclerosis pathways and the PPAR signaling pathway. RT-qPCR results showed that it can regulate lipid metabolism–related genes (apoA1, LDLR, and ANGPTL3), fatty acid synthesis and oxidation genes (SREBF1, FASN, PPARα, and cpt1a,), and cholesterol metabolism–related genes (CYP7A1, HMGCR, ABCG5, and ABCG8).

Key words: hyperlipidemia, Betukladin, reindeer lichen, birch bark, lipid lowering, zebrafish model

CLC Number: 

  • R961

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