• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2011

The family of bile acids belongs to a group of molecular species of acidic steroids with very peculiar biological characteristics. They are synthesized by the liver from cholesterol through several complementary pathways and secreted into small intestine for the participation in the digestion and absorption of fat. The bile acids are mostly confined to the territories of the so-called enterohepatic circulation, which includes the liver, the biliary tree, the intestine and the portal blood with which bile acids are returned to the liver. In patients with bile acid malabsorption, the amount of primary bile acids in the colon is increased compared to healthy controls. Although the increase in the secondary bile acids including deoxycholic acid, is reported to have the potency to affect tumorigenesis in gastrointestinal tracts, there is no firm evidence that clinically relevant concentrations of the bile acids induce cancer. The list of their physiological roles, as well as that of the pathological processes is long and still not complete. There is no doubt that many new concepts, pharmaceutical tools and pharmacological uses of bile acids and their derivatives will emerge in the near future.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.68-72
• /
• 1996

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), secondary bile acids, have been shown to have a cell differentiation activity in mouse F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells. Treatment with bile acids induced morphological changes, including cytoplasmic and nuclear membrane blebbing, aggregation of organelles, and chromatin condensation, corresponding to apoptosis. Moreover, the bile acids induced intemucleosomal DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. In addition, the expression of c-jun was increased, but that of c-myc and laminin was decreased during apoptosis induced by the bile acids in F9 cells. These results suggest that the bile acids can induce apoptosis in F9 cells. Furthermore, the c-jun expression may be related to the apoptosis induced by UDCA or LCA in F9 cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.31 no.9
• /
• pp.1394-1403
• /
• 1998

The study was designed to observe the effect of dietary calcium and fats on plasma cholesterol level, hepatic microsomal fluidity and HMG-CoA reductase activity as well as the excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols in 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine(DMH)-treated rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats, at 7 weeks of age, were divided into 2 groups, 0.3% and 1.0% Ca levels and each group again subdivided into 2 groups of corn oil and perilla oil. Each rat was intramuscularly infused with DMH for 6 weeks to give total dose of 180mg/kg body weight and also fed experimental diet containing 15%(w/w) different fit and Ca(0.3% or 1.0%) for 20 weeks. High dietary calcium(1.0%) did not significantly influence on plasma cholesterol as well as hepatic microsomal fluidity and HMG CoA reductase activity, but significantly reduced the excretion of total bile acid per gram of faces and increased the excretion of total neutral sterol. However, high dietary Ca reduced the excretion of secondary bile acid(deoxycholic and lithocholic acids) which was known as promoter for colon cancer. Perilla oil rich in n-3 ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid significantly decreased plasma cholesterol by increasing hepatic microsomal fluidity compared with corn oil, but did not influence on HMG CoA reductase activity. Perilla oil did not influence on fecal excretion of total and primary bile acids, but reduced the excretion of secondary bile acids. Therefore, it could be recommended to consume more fish product and food rich in calcium and use more perilla oil in meal preparation to prevent from coronary hear disease and colon cancer especially when high fit diet has been practiced. (Korean Nutrition 31(9) : 1394-1403, 1998)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.33 no.8
• /
• pp.802-812
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of resistant starch(RS) in hyperchlesterolemia and colon cancer. The subjects of this study was eight college women participating in the general starch diet(GSD) period for 5 days and resistant starch diet(RSD) period for 7 days. RSD contains 30g or the RS. On the last day of each program blood were collected. And for the last 3 days of each diet period, the amount of all the food consumed by the subjects and feces were collected. Food was measured to determine and compared the energy, protein and fat intakes. The amount of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and volatile fatty acids in plasma and the amounts of bile acids in feces were measured by gas chromatography. The results obtained were as follows, Daily energy intake was higher in the RSD compared with the GSD, Protein and fat intakes were lower in the RSD compared with the compared with the GSD. Volatile fatty acid contents in plasma, the amounts of acetic acid, propionic acid and valeric acid were higher in the RSD compared with the GSD. The amounts of bile acids in feces, cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were higher in the RSD compared with the GSD, But the amount of deoxycholic acid n the RSD period was significantly low. Secondary/primary ratios of bile acids was lower in the RSD compared with GSD, respectively. We speculate that , RS consumption decreases colonic mucosal proliferation as a result of the decreased formation of cytotoxic secondary bile acids. Thus, RS intakes may contribute the prevention of heart disease and colon cancer in humans. (Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 802-812, 2000)

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.51-56
• /
• 2006

We investigated the effects of fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin on the profiles of cecal and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and fecal bile acids in rats. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley male rats weighing about 190 g were randomly divided among four treatments; control diet, control diet +6%(w/w) fructooligosaccharide (POS), control diet +6% chicory inulin oligosaccharide(CIOS), and control diet +6% chicory inulin(CI). The rats were pair-fed and experimental diets were maintained for 5 weeks. Cecal and fecal pH was significantly decreased in rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin. Cecal propionate was significantly elevated in rats fed CIOS diets, and butyrate was lower in rats fed FOS and CI than control values. Cecal lactate was significantly higher in the FOS group than in the control group. The fecal excretions of acetate and total SCFA were 200-300% higher in rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin than in the control group. Lactate excretion was highest in rats that were fed FOS, followed by those fed CIOS and CI. The cholic acid and total bile acid concentrations in feces were significantly lower in the rats that were fed fructooligosaccharides and chicory inulin. The deoxycholic acid concentrations in wet feces were significantly lower in the groups of rats that ate CIOS (0.186 mM), FOS (0.274 mM), and CI (0.362 mM) than in the control group (0.595 mM). Among the fructans, short-chain fructooligosaccharide was more effective at decreasing colonic pH and lactate production, but medium-chain chicory inulin oligosaccharide was more effective at increasing fecal butyrate and lowering the fecal secondary bile acid concentration.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 1996

Bacterial transformation of bile acids is possibly involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. n several epidemiological studies, the fecal bile acid dietary fiber are related to the indicence of colonic cancer. This study investigated the influence of age, dietary fiber intake on fecal bile acid profiles in healthy subject. The dietary fiber were assessed by mean of 24 hour dietary recall method, the subjects consist of 238 members aged 20 to 64 years old and feces are collected from the subjects. Fecal bile acids and neutral sterols were analyzed by gas chromatography. Mean dily crude fiber intake level was 7.7$\pm$1.4g(dietary fiber : 16.7$\pm$3.5g), dietary fiber intake range being 6.5-36.8g. The dietary fiber intake in elederly subject was significantly lower than in the other younger groups. Dietary fiber intakes was negatively correlated with the total bil acid concentation in feces. Probably, a decrease in dietary fiber intake results in higher fecal bile acid concentrations. The secondary bile acid concentration is related to the colon cancer, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were significantly higher in elderly subjects. Concentration of fecal total bile acid, deoxycholic acid, coprostanol, coprostanone were higher in low dietary fiber intake group. These results suggest that the risk factor for colon cancer might be reduced, when dietary fibers are consummed more.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.1038-1044
• /
• 2002

The study was designed to observe the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on tumor incidence, eicosanoid formation and antioxidant enzyme activities in colonic mucosa and the fecal excretion of deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. One hundred twenty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 2 groups, BT (beef tallow diet) group and FO (fish oil diet) group, and each group was again subdivided into 2 groups depending on CLA supplementation, i.e.4 groups of BT, BTC, FO, FOC. All rats were fed experimental diet for 30 weeks, which contained 12% (wt/wt) total dietary fat including 1% (wt/wt) CLA, and were intramuscularly injected with DMH for 6 weeks to give total dose of 180 mg/kg body. CLA-supplemented to BT and FO diet reduced tumor incidence, eicosanoid (PGE$_2$ and TXA$_2$) level in colonic mucosa. N-3 fatty acids (mainly DHA) of fish oil diet (FO, FOC group) also reduced tumor incidence and significantly reduced eicosanoid (PGE$_2$ and TXA$_2$) level in colonic mucosa. CLA supplementation and n-3 fatty acid significantly increased colonic mucosal level of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities but reduced secondary bile acids (deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid) excretion in the feces. In conclusion, CLA supplementation and n-3 fatty acid could reduce tumor incidence by reducing eicosanoids and increasing antioxidant enzyme activities in colon and decreasing the excretion of deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid in the feces. The data might suggest that CLA supplementation and n-3 DHA rich fish oil may modulate colon carcinogenesis.termediate level of endurance exercise training for 6 weeks did not influence concentrations of most of free amino acid in soleus muscle of rats collected at an overnight fasted and rested state. In contrast, isolucine and leucine concentrations in extensor digitorum longus muscle of exercise-trained rats were significantly lower than those for control animals. These results indicate that aerobic energy metabolism had not been efficiently conducted, and thereby the utilization of BCAA for energy substrate was enhanced in fast twitch oxidative glycolytic fibers of extensor digitorum longus muscle of rats followed exercise-training protocol for 6 weeks.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.637-643
• /
• 1999

The effects of yam(Dioscorea) on lowering cholesterol level and its mechanism were investigated. The concentrations of plasma and liver lipids, and the excretions of fecal neutral sterol and bile acid were measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five Groups of 8 rats were fed hypercholesterolemic diet(1% cholesterol, 10% lard ; control), hypercholesterolemic diet plus 15% or 30% dried yam powder prepared by either hot-air(15HY, 30HY) or freeze dry(15FY, 30FY) for 4wk. Plasma total lipid, total cholesterol and cholesterol level was also significantly lower(28%, p<0.05), buy HMG-CoA reductase activity was higher in 30FY(230%, p<0.05) than in control. Although no significant differences in fecal neutral sterols were observed among groups, the yam-fed rats apparently had less bacterial degradation of cholesterol as indicated by a significantly greater of fecal cholesterol to coprostanol than in controls. Total fecal bile acids were significantly greater in rats fed yam(15HY : 5 folds, 15FY ; 12,30HY ; 12, 20FY ; 22) than in controls. The ratio of secondary to primary bile acids was almost 8 times lower in 30FY than in control. These data indicate that yam lowers cholesterol both in plasma and in liver through increasing fecal bile acid excretion as well as HMG-CoA reductase activity. Freeze-dried yam, which possesses viscosity, was more effective in cholesterol-lowering action than hot-air dried one.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.655-662
• /
• 2007

This study examined the effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 43121 (LAB) on cholesterol metabolism in hypercholesterolemia-induced rats. Four treatment groups of rats (n=9) were fed experimental diets: normal diet, normal $diet+LAB(2{\times}10^6\;CFU/day)$, hypercholesterol diet (0.5% cholesterol, w/w), and hypercholesterol diet+LAB. Body weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency did not differ among the four groups. Supplementation with LAB reduced total serum cholesterol (25%) and VLDL+IDL+LDL cholesterol (42%) in hypercholesterol diet groups, although hepatic tissue cholesterol and lipid contents were not changed. In the normal diet group, cholesterol synthesis (HMG-CoA reductase expression), absorption (LDL receptor expression), and excretion via bile acids (cholesterol $7{\alpha}-hydroxylase$ expression) were increased by supplementation with LAB, and increased cholesterol absorption and decreased excretion were found in the hypercholesterol diet group. Total fecal acid sterols excretion was increased by supplementation with LAB. With proportional changes in both normal and hypercholesterol diet groups, primary bile acids (cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids) were reduced, and secondary bile acids (deoxycholic and lithocholic acids) were increased. Fecal neutral sterol excretion was not changed by LAB. In this experiment, the increase in insoluble bile acid (lithocholic acid) reduced blood cholesterol level in rats fed hypercholesterol diets supplemented with LAB. Thus, in the rat, L. acidophilus ATCC 43121 is more likely to affect deconjugation and dehydroxylation during cholesterol metabolism than the assimilation of cholesterol into cell membranes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.403-407
• /
• 2007

Several marine. bacterial strains, which were isolated from seawater off the island Dokdo, Korea, were screened to find new bioactive compounds such as antibiotics. Among them, Donghaeana dokdonensis strain DSW-6 was found to produce antibacterial agents, and the agents were then purified and analyzed by LC-MS/MS and 1D- and 2D-NMR spectrometries. The bioactive compounds were successfully identified as cholic acid and glycine-conjugated glycocholic acid, the $7{\alpha}$-dehydroxylated derivatives (deoxycholic acid and glycodeoxycholic acid) of which were also detected in relatively small amounts. Other marine isolates, taxonomically different from DSW-6, were also able to produce the compounds in a quite different production ratio from DSW-6. As far as we are aware of, these bile acids are produced by specific members of the genus Streptomyces and Myroides, and thought to be general secondary metabolites produced by a variety of bacterial taxa that are widely distributed in the sea.