• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.641-649
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. (PJT) powder on lipid metabolism and antioxidative activity in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to four groups: normal diet group (N), high-fat/high-cholesterol group (HFC), high-fat/highcholesterol with 5% PJT powder (HFC-PBL), and high-fat/high-cholesterol with 10% PJT powder (HFC-PBH). Body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (FER) increased in the HFC group, whereas they gradually decreased in the PJT powder-fed groups. Food intake was not significantly different between the experimental groups. Liver and adipose tissue weights of the HFC group were heavier than that of the N group, whereas the groups fed PJT powder showed gradual reduction of tissue weights. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity significantly decreased after PJT powder administration. Serum triglyceride level significantly decreased in groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. The serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level of the HFC group increased by 73.70% than that of the N group, whereas serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) tended to decrease in groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. Levels of triglycerides in epididymal and mesenteric adipose tissues, as well as cholesterol levels in liver and adipose tissues were lower in the groups fed 10% PJT powder compared to the HFC group. The liver glutathione (GSH) level increased in the groups fed PJT powder compare to the HFC group. The liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content significantly decreased in the groups fed PJT powder compared to the HFC group. These results suggest that PJT powder may improve lipid metabolism in the serum, liver, and adipose tissue and prevent oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidative systems in rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet.