• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.829-837
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds on cholesterol adsorption capacity and UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity. In vitro cholesterol adsorption capacity of 2%, 5% and 10% ethanol extracts from red pepper seed groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. Sprague-Dawley strain male rats weighing $100{\pm}10$ g were randomly assigned to one normal diet N group and experimental groups fed high fat and high cholesterol diet, which were divided into HF (0.0%), HEA (0.1%), HEB (0.2%), and HEC (0.5%) groups according to the amount of ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds added to their basal diet. The body weight gain in the HF group was higher than that in the N group, and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that in the HF group However, there were no statistically significant differences among the all the groups. The hepatic triglyceride and total cholesterol contents in the N group was significantly lower than that in the HF group, and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that in the HF group. The hepatic UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity in the N group was lower than that of the HF group and those in the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The serum total cholesterol and triglyceride contents of the HF group were significantly higher than that of the N group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The serum HDL-cholesterol contents in all groups supplemented with the ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds were significantly higher than that of the HF group. The serum LDL-cholesterol contents of the HF group were significantly higher than that of the N group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The fecal total cholesterol contents were significantly higher in the HF group compared to the N group, and those of the HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. The fecal triglyceride contents in the N group was higher than that of the HF group, and those of the HEA, HEB and HEC groups were lower than that of the HF group. This study suggested that the ethanol extracts from red pepper seeds have powerful health benefits by the UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.1258-1263
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• 2008

The current study examined the effects of radish leaves powder on the excretion of fecal triglyceride, and sterol and hepatic UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) activity in rats fed hypercholesterolemic diet. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly assigned to normal control group (N group), normal diet with 5% radish leaves powder supplemented group (NR) and hypercholesterolemic groups, which were sub-divided into radish leaves powder free diet group (HC) and 2.5% (HRL), 5% (HRM), and 10% (HRH) radish leaves powder supplemented groups. The experimental diets were fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. Fecal weights and water contents were significantly increased in all radish leaves powder supplemented groups (NR, HRL, HRM, and HRH) than that of N and HC groups. Fecal total lipid contents including fecal neutral and acidic sterols in radish leaves powder supplemented groups were higher than those of the HC group, and especially that of HRH group was the highest among all experimental groups. Hepatic UDPGT activity of HRH group was 38% higher than that of HC group. Excretions of fecal bile acid were increased 2.3 and 2.7 folds in HRM and HRH groups compared with that of HC group. And neutral sterol, coprostanol, and coprostanone contents of them were higher in radish leaves supplemented groups than in HC group. These results suggest that radish leaves may act as potential substitute for a dietary fiber capable of improving a gastrointestinal function and lipid metabolism.