Anti-atherosclerotic effect of Fermentum Rubrum and Gynostemma pentaphyllum mixture in high-fat emulsion- and vitamin D-induced atherosclerotic rats.

Background: The mixture of Hongqu and gypenosides (HG) is composed of Fermentum Rubrum (Hongqu, in Chinese) and total saponins of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino (Jiaogulan, in Chinese) in a 3.6:1 weight ratio.