Bicyclol, a synthetic dibenzocyclooctadiene derivative, decreases hepatic lipids but increases serum triglyceride level in normal and hypercholesterolaemic mice

Bicyclol is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in China. In this study, the effects of bicyclol (100 or 300 mg kg−1, p.o.) on serum and liver lipid contents were investigated in both normal and experimentally induced hypercholesterolaemic mice. Hypercholesterolaemia was induced by either oral administration of cholesterol/bile salt or feeding a diet containing lard/cholesterol. Daily administration of bicyclol for 7 days dose‐dependently increased the serum triglyceride level (29–80%) but slightly decreased the hepatic total cholesterol level (12–17%) in normal mice. Co‐administration of bicyclol with cholesterol/bile salt decreased the hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol levels (7–15% and 25–31%, respectively), when compared with the drug‐untreated and cholesterol/bile salt‐treated group. Bicyclol treatment for 7 days decreased hepatic triglyceride (5–76%) and total cholesterol (5–48%) levels in mice fed with high‐fat/cholesterol diet. In contrast, bicyclol treatment increased the serum triglyceride level (18–77%) in mice treated with cholesterol/bile salt or fed with high‐fat/cholesterol diet. Bicyclol treatment also caused an increase in hepatic index of normal and hypercholesterolaemic mice (3–32%). The results indicate that bicyclol treatment can invariably decrease hepatic lipid levels and increase serum triglyceride levels in normal and hypercholesterolaemic mice.