Influence of an eggplant (Solanum melongena) preparation on cholesterol metabolism in rats).
To investigate the mechanism behind the hypocholesteremic properties of Solanum melongena diets containing 1% Sol. mel. leaf or fruit powder, alfalfa, or clofibrate were fed to rats. Sol. mel. did n ot lower the serum plus liver cholesterol pool of rats, whereas alfalfa and clofibrate did. However, all substances tested decreased the absorption of a single dietary dose of [4-14C] cholesterol. It appears that Sol. mel. exerts its reported hypocholesteremic effect in rabbits through an inhibition of absorption of dietary cholesterol. This inhibition is probably brought about partially through the binding of bile salts which are essential for cholesterol absorption.
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001665:Binding Sites; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D002994:Clofibrate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D014675:Vegetables
D010936:Plant Extracts; D002784:Cholesterol; D002994:Clofibrate