• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.191-195
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• 2010

There is an increasing interest in curcumin (Curcuma longa L.) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) protective agent via decreased blood total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol) level. The aim of this study was to investigate further the potential mechanism in the hypocholesterolemic effect of curcumin by measuring cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), a rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of bile acid from cholesterol, at the mRNA level. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 45% high fat diet or same diet supplemented with curcumin (0.1% wt/wt) for 8 weeks. The curcumin diet significantly decreased serum triglyceride (TG) by 27%, total cholesterol (TC) by 33.8%, and LDL-cholesterol by 56%, respectively as compared to control group. The curcumin-supplemented diet also significantly lowered the atherogenic index (AI) by 48% as compared to control group. Hepatic TG level was significantly reduced by 41% in rats fed with curcumin-supplemented diet in comparison with control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the curcumin diet significantly increased fecal TG and TC. The curcumin diet up-regulated hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA level by 2.16-fold, compared to control group p (P < 0.05). These findings suggested that the increases in the CYP7A1 gene expression may partially account for the hypocholesterolemic effect of curcumin.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.632-637
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of red pericarp glutinous rice rich in polyphenols (Jakwangchalbyeo, red rice) on serum and hepatic levels of cholesterol and hepatic protein expression linked to synthesis and degradation of cholesterol in a hypercholesterolemic mice diet as compared with brown rice. MATERIALS/METHODS: C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5 each), which were fed different diets for a period of 12 weeks: American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93G diet, AIN-93G diet with 2% cholesterol, brown rice with 2% cholesterol, or red rice with 2% cholesterol. RESULT: Consumption of red rice resulted in a significant decrease in serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hepatic levels of triglyceride and total-cholesterol. Expression of acyl-coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase-2 (ACAT-2), sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), and 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was decreased, while expression of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK ratio, cholesterol 7-${\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7a1), and sterol 12-${\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP8b1) was increased in mice fed red rice. Brown rice had similar effects on cholesterol metabolism, but the effect of red rice was significantly greater than that of brown rice. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggested that red rice had a hypocholesterolemic effect by lowering hepatic cholesterol synthesis through ACAT-2, HMG-CoA reductase, and SREBP-2, and by enhancing hepatic cholesterol degradation through CYP7a1 and CYP8b1 in mice fed a hypercholesterolemic diet.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2000

To study the effect of prosomillet (Panicum milaceum) on lipid metabolism, male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 190$\pm$8g were fed six experimental diets for four weeks. The six diets based on AIN-76 composition consisted of one cholesterol-free(normal) and five 1%(w/w) cholesterol diets, i.e. control, two diets containing additional 0.3 and 0.6%(w/w) methanol extracts of prosomillet and another two diets containing 15 and 30% (w/w) prosomillet powder. There was no difference in weight gains between the groups but relative liver weights increased under the cholestrol diets. Plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride(TG) decreased by 23-27% and by 37-52%, respectively, in the four prosomillet diet groups compared to those of the normal and control groups. Whereas in the liver, only TG levels decreased in the prosomillet diet groups. Fecal excretions of bile acid and cholesterol significantly with methanol extracts of prosomillet. There was a significant increase in the activity of hepatic microsomal cholesterol 7$\alpha$-hydroxylase when feeding 1% cholesterol but prosomillet in the diet, either as in the form of powder or methanol extract, appeared to have only slight additional effects, namely increases in enzyme activity. The activity of liver cytosolic glucose-6-phophate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) tended to be reduced with high cholesterol diets and dropped markedly by 15% using additional prosomillet powder. Those of the liver cytoxolic malic enzyme had a similar tendency to those of G6PDH. The results indicate that certain active components in prosmillet other than fiber have the potential to exert hypolipidemic effects via regulating cholesterol excretions and lipogenesis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.85-85
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• 2002

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2007

The present study was performed to elucidate the hypocholesterolemic action of chitosan on the diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=24) were fed with chitosan-free diet (Control), diets containing 2% or 5% chitosan for 4 weeks. Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. Body weight gain and food intake of rats did not differ among the groups. The chitosan treated groups showed significant improvement in the plasma concentration of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, the chitosan treated groups decreased the liver concentration of total lipid and total cholesterol compared to the control group (p<0.05). The activity of hepatic cholesterol $7{\alpha}-hydroxylase$ (CYP7A1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, was increased by 123% and 165% for the 2% or 5% chitosan diets, respectively. These findings suggest that enhancement of hepatic CYP7A1 activity may be a mechanism, which can partially account for the hypocholesterolemic effect of dietary chitosan in cholesterol metabolism.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2004

Green tea, which is high in polyphenols, is thought to have hypocholesterolemic effects. The present study was performed to further elucidate the hypocholesterolemic actions of green tea, specially the catechin and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) for their effects on the diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with green tea-free diet (control), diets containing 4% green tea powder (GTP), 1.0% green tea catechin (catechin) or 0.5% epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) for 7 wks. All diets that were provided green tea contained approximately 0.5% EGCG Hypercholesterolemia was induced by adding 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid to all diets. There were no differences in food intake among groups. The green tea treatments showed significant improvement in the serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerides and atherogenic index in the following order; EGCG>Catechin>GTP (p<0.05). The serum HDL-cholesterol level was highest in the EGCG-treated group. The catechin or EGCG diet up-regulated by 5 times the enzyme activity of hepatic cholesterol 7$\alpha$ -hydroxylase (CYP7Al) compared to control diet (p<0.05). Hepatic CYP7Al mRNA level paralleled tile increases in the CYP7Al activity. These results suggest that the EGCG in the green tea may account for the hypocholesterolemic effect by the induction of CYP7Al gene expression.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.526-534
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• 2013

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica complex (OF) on the lipid metabolism, bile acid in feces, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspatate aminotransferase (AST) activity, composition of urine and expression of cholesterol related mRNA in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into non-diabetic control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic OF of 2% (OF-2) and diabetic OF of 5% (OF-5), then each group was fed for 3 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were decreased significantly (p<0.05) in OF-5 group compared to DC, but high density lipoprotein (HDL) was not changed. AST and ALT were also reduced and bile acid excretion was improved. Composition of urine in OF-5 was almost same in NC. The expression of cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-R), Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA indicated that feeding OF have the effects of cholesterol decreation in plasma by synthesis of bile acid from cholesterol. These results provide experimental evidence about improved lipid metabolism of the OF feeding in the STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.303.2-303.2
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• 2003

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.501-506
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• 2016

BACKGROUNG/OBJECTIVES: Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ were determined. RESULTS: Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2013

This study determined the effects of fucoxanthin on gene expressions related to lipid metabolism in rats with a high-fat diet. Rats were fed with normal fat diet (NF, 7% fat) group, high fat diet group (HF, 20% fat), and high fat with 0.2% fucoxanthin diet group (HF+Fxn) for 4 weeks. Body weight changes and lipid profiles in plasma, liver, and feces were determined. The mRNA expressions of transcriptional factors such as sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c, Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1), Cholesterol $7{\alpha}$-hydroxylase1 (CYP7A1) as well as mRNA expression of several lipogenic enzymes were determined. Fucoxanthin supplements significantly increased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (P < 0.05). The hepatic total lipids, total cholesterols, and triglycerides were significantly decreased while the fecal excretions of total lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides were significantly increased in HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of hepatic Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), Fatty acid synthase (FAS), and Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) as well as SREBP-1C were significantly lower in HF+Fxn group compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). The hepatic mRNA expression of Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) and Acyl-CoA cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) were significantly low while lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) was significantly high in the HF+Fxn group (P < 0.05). There was significant increase in mRNA expression of CPT1 and CYP7A1 in the HF+Fxn group, compared to the HF group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, consumption of fucoxanthin is thought to be effective in improving lipid and cholesterol metabolism in rats with a high fat diet.