Effects of naringin and lovastatin on plasma and hepatic lipids in high-fat and high-cholesterol fed rats

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 20; no. 7; pp. 1007 - 1015
• Main Authors: Bok, Song-Hae, Shin, Yong Won, Bae, Ki-Hwan, Jeong, Tae-Sook, Kwon, Yong-Kook, Park, Yong Bok, Choi, Myung-Sook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2000; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: ACAT; Biological and medical sciences; Cholesterol; General and cellular metabolism. Vitamins; HMG-CoA reductase; Lovastatin; Medical sciences; Naringin; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Triglyceride; Lovastatin; Naringin; ACAT; Triglyceride; HMG-CoA reductase; Cholesterol; Acyltransferases; Rat; Digestive system; Enzyme; Transferases; Liver; Rodentia; Lipids; Supplemented diet; Feeding; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Lipemia; Enzymatic activity; Animal; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase; Oxidoreductases; Sterol O-acyltransferase
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/S0271-5317(00)00191-3

The effects of naringin on lipid metabolism were examined in rats that were fed a high-fat ( 15 g lard 100 g ) and high-cholesterol ( 1 g 100 g ) diet. Low- or high-doses ( 0.02 g or 0.05 g 100 g ) of either naringin or lovastatin were supplemented in an experimental diet for 35 d. The concentrations of plasma total cholesterol were significantly lower in the naringin- and lovastatin-supplemented groups than in the control group fed a basal diet. In addition, both doses of lovastatin and a high-dose naringin significantly lowered plasma triglyceride concentrations compared to the control group. All naringin and lovastatin supplements, except for the high-dose lovastatin, significantly lowered the hepatic cholesterol concentration compared to the control group. The concentrations of hepatic triglyceride in the naringin-supplemented groups (0.34±0.06 mmol/g and 0.30±0.06 mmol/g) and control (0.33±0.06 mmol/g) were significantly lower than in the lovastatin-supplemented groups (0.40±0.03 mmol/g and 0.42±0.05 mmol/g). High and low doses of naringin significantly lowered the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase by 54% and 39%, respectively, compared to the control group, while lovastatin did not demonstrate any inhibitory activity on this enzyme. The activities of acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) were significantly lower in all experimental groups than in the control. Accordingly, lipid-lowering action of naringin seems to be different from that of lovastatin in a high-fat and high-choleterol fed rats.