Objective   To observe the effects of lindley eupatorium herb on blood lipid metabolism in SD rats and to explore the related mechanisms.   Methods   Sixty normal rats were randomly divided into six groups: control group

high-fatty model group

positive control group

lindley eupatorium herb high-dose

middle-dose and low-dose groups. Apart from the rats in the control group

all the rats in other groups were fed with high fat suspension and drugs respectively for 60 d. The effects of lindley eupatorium herb opuntia on blood lipids

free cholesterol (FCH)

free fatty acid (FFA)

lipoprotein lipase (LPL)

hepatic lipase (HL)

lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) were observed. Meanwhile

the samples in the research were collected and the changes of 1ow density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene expression in liver were analyzed by RT-PCR.   Results   Lindley eupatorium herb could significantly decrease the levels of total cholesterol (TC)

triglyceride (TG)

1ow density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

FCH

and FFA in the experimental hyperlipidemic rats and markedly increase the level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The activities of LPL

HL and LCAT in lindley eupatorium herb group were significantly higher than those in the hyperlipidemia group. Lindley eupatorium herb could also markedly enhance LDLR gene expression in the liver.   Conclusion   Lindley eupatorium herb could promote the transfer of cholesterol from peripheral tissue cells to liver cells

activate the activity of lipid metabolism enzyme

and enhance the expression of LDLR mRNA to modulate the lipid metabolic disorders in hyperlipidemic rats.