• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.379-385
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• 2003

Effects of molokhia (Corchorus olitorius) and its mucilage on in vitro bile acid adsorption capacity and lipid composition using cholesterol-fed SD rats were investigated. Mucilage showed stronger affinity toward bile acid than hot water extract of molokhia powder. As the extracting temperature increased from 50 to $80^{\circ}C$, bile acid binding capacity of mucilage also increased from 41 to 83%. When molokhia powder or its mucilage added into cholesterol diet at 5 or 10% levels (as fiber source) was compared with cellulose-added group, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of plasma showed no significant differences, whereas, HDL-cholesterol level of cellulose group significantly increased. Accumulation of cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were significantly inhibited in molokhia and mucilage groups. Molokhia and mucilage lowered the liver weights significantly. As the concentration of molokhia or mucilage increased, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the liver was lowered. Cholesterol and triglyceride excreted through feces were significant increased in molokhia- or mucilage-fed group, with excretion of cholesterol by molokhia-fed group being mere distinct.