The Effect of Supplementation of Persimmon Leaf Extract on Lipid and Antioxidant Metabolism in Rats Fed a High-cholesterol Diet

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables reportedly have a protective effect against hyperlipidemia and oxidative disease. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering effect and antioxidative capacity of persimmon leaf extract (PLE) in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Male rats were fed a high-cholesterol (1% wt/wt) or high-cholesterol diet supplemented with Lovastatin (0.02% wt/wt) or PLE (0.2% wt/wt) for 5 weeks. The concentration of plasma total cholesterol was significantly lower in the PLE group than in the lovastatin group. However, the concentration of plasma HDL-cholesterol and the ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol (%) were significantly higher in the PLE group than in the control group. The PLE supplement also significantly lowered the contents of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride. In comparing fecal sterol contents, the PLE group saw a significant increase of both neutral and acidic sterol compared to the other groups. The PLE supplement significantly lowered plasma GOT and GPT activity, which ave indices of hepatic toxicity. Plasma TBARS concentration was significantly lower in the PLE group than in the control group, while hepatic TBARS level was not significantly different between the groups. In a comparison of hepatic antioxidant parameters, SOD, catalase and GSH-Px activity were significantly higher in the PLE group than in the control group. However, the PLE supplement significantly towered antioxidant enzyme activity in the erythrocyte. Furthermore, these results suggest that supplementation of PLE promoted the excretion of fecal sterols, thereby leading to decreased absorption of dietary cholesterol. In addition, PLE may play an important role in regulating antioxidative capacities by altering SOD and ChT activity.

Keywords

• Persimmon leaf;
• Lipid-lowering;
• Antioxidant metabolism;
• High-cholesterol diet