Objective:To observe the effect of the extract of Valeriana jatamansi Jones on the blood lipid and liver function in experimental hyperlipidemia rats. Method:All the rats

except for the normal group

were fed with high-fat diets for 25 days to establish hyperlipidemia model. Then lovastatin group was given lovastatin at the doses of 3 mg·kg-1 once a day

and V. jatamansi high

medium

and low group were respectively given the alcohol extract of V. jatamansi at the doses of 1.25

2.5

5 g·kg-1 equivalently to the crude V. jatamansi by intragastric administration once a day. After administration

every group was still fed with high-fat diets. Two weeks later

the serum level of total cholesterol(TC)

triglycerides(TG)

lipoproten cholesterol(LDL-C)

high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)

alanine aminotransferase(ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and liver TC

TG was detected. Result:the TC

TG

LDL-C levels in the serums and livers in model rats were higher than these in normal rats(P＜0.05

P＜0.01)

and the serum levels of ALT and AST also increased significantly(P＜0.05). Both lovastatin and the alcohol extract of V. jatamansi showed significantly decreased TG level in serum and liver(P＜0.01)

the TC level in liver(P＜0.01)and the ALT and AST in serum (P＜0.01). Conclusion:V. jatamansi can regulate blood lipids level

and protect liver in hyperlipidemia rats.