Abstract: Objective To study the therapeutic effect of Wuling powder on hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet in Guizhou mini-pigs. Methods Twelve healthy Guizhou mini-pigs were selected, 4 pigs fed a standard diet (normal group), and 8 pigs fed a high-fat diet for 24 weeks to establish a hyperlipidemia model. Further, the model pigs were divided into model group and Wuling powder treatment group, and fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Wuling powder (0.55 g/kg) was added to the diet of the treatment group every day. Body weight, body size, abdominal girth, serum lipid parameters, and main syndromes and signs were measured and recorded. Results After the animal model was established successfully, body weight and body mass index (BMI) of the model group were found to be higher than that of the normal group, although the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The levels of the following main blood lipid parameters: total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased significantly (all P<0.05) in the model group, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level decreased significantly (P<0.05) as compared with the normal group. The pigs in the model group showed obesity, abdominal enlargement, hair thinning, tiredness and fatigue, and light or soft stool, which are syndroms of hyperlipidemia. After Wuling powder treatment, body weight and BMI of the mini-pigs in the treatment group were lower than those in the model group (P>0.05); the comprehensive score of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome was significantly reduced, in addition to the TC, TG, and LDL-C levels (P<0.05); HDL-C levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusion The hyperlipidemia model is successfully established in Guizhou mini-pigs, and lipid metabolism disorder can be improved to a certain degree after intervention treatment with Wuling powder.

Key words: Wuling powder, Hyperlipidemia, Phlegm dampness syndrome, Guizhou mini-pigs