Since Korean ancient times, powder of Rosa rugosa Thunberg has been used as a folk remedy. This study was conducted to verify the effects of Rosa rugosa Thunberg powder on in vitro antioxidant properties and serum lipid levels of high-fat diet-induced mice from a nutritional viewpoint. In the case of Rosa rugosa Thunberg powders, measurement of TPC, ABTS radical scavenging activity of trolox, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and measured value of FRAP were higher in ethanol extract than water extracts. For LDL-cholesterol concentration, mice fed 10% powder of Rosa rugosa Thunberg with high-fat diets showed a high numerical value compared with other groups (p<0.05). When testing for triglyceride concentrations in blood, mice fed 10% and 20% powder of Rosa rugosa Thunberg with high-fat diets showed the lowest numerical values (p<0.05). When testing for blood insulin concentrations, the high-fat diet group showed higher levels than compared to the control group (p<0.05). When testing for blood leptin concentrations, the high-fat diet group was 5.88±3.53 ng/dL, whereas mice fed 10% powder of Rosa rugosa Thunberg with high-fat diets showed a blood leptin level of 10.36±5.96 ng/dL (p<0.05). Therefore, results prove that powder of Rosa rugosa Thunberg reduces triglyceride concentrations in the blood, and could be used as an excellent natural antioxidant in the future.

The feeding effects of Herba hottuynia extracts on the lipids profiles and the content of TAB-reactive substances were evaluated in rats fed a high cholesterol diet. Hot water or ethanol extracts of the dried leave were evaporated and lyophilized . The experimental animals wer edevided to four groups and fed the following diets for 4 weeks : BAsal (cholesterol-free diet), CHOL(cholesterol-enriched diet),CW (cholesterol plus water extract) and CE(cholesterol plus ethanol extract). Dietary cholesterol increased significantly the activities of serum GOT and GPT, but the extracts feeding (0.5% of diet) did not influence the activities induced by dietary cholesterol. Although dietary cholesterol increased significantly the concentrationof serum andliver cholesterol, it tended to decrease the concentation of serum triglycerides. CHolesterol feeding had a lowering effect on the lipid peroxidation value of serum, but not inliver.Furthermore, the extracts feeding, especially water extract, decreased markedly the liver peroxidation value. The results suggest that Houttyunia cordata extracts have an in vivo antioxidant effect, judged from the TBA value in the liver rats fed a high cholesterol diet.