Protective effects of alginate-free residue of sea tangle against hyperlipidemic and oxidant activities in rats

The antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of dietary supplementation of sea tangle from Goseong and the alginate-free residue of sea tangle were investigated in Sprague Dawley rats treated with a high-fat diet, streptozotocin, poloxamer 407, and bromobenzene. The alginate-free residue of Goseong sea tangle induced a significant reduction in triglycerides and total cholesterol levels, as well as a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Alginate-free Goseong sea tangle residue reduced the activities of the phase I enzymes aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, which had been increased by intraperitoneal injection of bromobenzene. Pretreatment with Goseong sea tangle residue prevented a bromobenzene-induced decrease in epoxide hydrolase activity. Bromobenzene reduced hepatic glutathione content and increased hepatic lipid peroxide levels. Pretreatment with alginate-free Goseong sea tangle residue prevented lipid peroxidation induced by bromobenzene, but pretreatment with Goseong sea tangle did not. These results suggest that Goseong sea tangle residue exerted antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities that were higher than those induced by alginate-containing sea tangle. Therefore, the alginate-free residue may contain physiologically unknown active components, other than alginic acid, which may potentially be used to prevent hyperlipidemic atherosclerosis.