The biological activities of a protein isolate from lupin (Lupinus albus) were studied in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Focal plaque development was induced at both common carotid arteries by perivascular injury. After surgery, animals were fed three different diets for 90 d, all with 1% cholesterol, 15% SFA and 20% protein; the protein source was casein (CAS), lupin proteins (LUP) or 50% ...

The direct effects of clofibrate analogues on carnitine acyltransferase activities and fatty acid metabolism were studied in cultured hepatocytes. Rat hepatocytes cultured with bezafibrate or ciprofibrate (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) for 48 h had increased activities of carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT; 4-6-fold) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT; 12-34%). The increase in CAT was higher in hepa...

The polysaccharides of Acanthophora spicifera and Cystoseira trinode were isolated and their components identified using different chemical and spectral techniques. Their effects were evaluated for the first time on hyperlipidemic rats. Atorvastatin Ca (Lipitor) was used as a reference drug. Results revealed that the polysaccharides isolated were of sulfate type. Acanthophora spicifera lowered ...

In this study, ethanolic extracts from Hericium erinaceum cultivated with Artemisia capillaris (HEAC) were assessed for their ability to lower the cholesterol levels of male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet. Rats were randomly subdivided into seven test groups. Each group contained eight rats fed a high-fat diet during a growth period lasting 4 wk. Supplementation with the extracts was p...

Increased serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced by 38 - 41.7% and 48 - 53.3% respectively when fed with alfalfa seed extract from the beginning or in established hyperlipidaemic model. LDL-cholesterol lowering was maximum (64.4%) in a model fed with alfalfa meals without cholesterol. An increase in HDL- cholesterol total cholesterol is suggestive of beneficial role since it is asso...

In this study the hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolaemic and hypotriglyceridaemic effects of garlic were studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Compared to normal (non-diabetic) rats, STZ-induced diabetic rats had approximately 200% higher serum glucose, 50% higher serum cholesterol and 30% higher serum triglyceride levels as well as 86% higher urinary protein levels. Daily treatme...