Lipid-lowering and antioxidative activities of 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate and 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate in cholesterol-fed rats.
BACKGROUND
Polyphenols appear to have antioxidant activities and may mediate lipid lowering.


METHODS
Four groups of rats, a high-cholesterol control (HC), HC+lovastatin, HC+3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate, and HC+3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate, were given a semi-synthetic diet. The cinnamate derivative or lovastatin (0.1 g/100 g) supplements were given for 6 weeks.


RESULTS
The plasma total cholesterol concentration was significantly lowered by the 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate supplement compared to the control or lovastatin group. The 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate and 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate supplements significantly lowered both the hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while lovastatin only lowered the hepatic cholesterol. The hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activities were significantly lower in the 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate and 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate groups than in the control or lovastatin group. The ACAT activity was only significantly lower in the lovastatin group compared to the other groups. With regards the hepatic antioxidant enzyme system, the CAT activity was significantly higher in the 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate and 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate groups compared to the control or lovastatin group. The two cinnamate derivatives resulted in an increased hepatic GSH-Px activity. Meanwhile, all the supplements significantly lowered the hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content. However, the 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate and 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate supplements did not alter the neutral sterol and total fecal sterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Both cinnamate derivatives were potent in lipid-lowering and altering the antioxidative enzyme. Furthermore, these results also suggest that 3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate is more effective than 3,4-di(OH)-hydrocinnamate in its lipid-lowering action.
Lee
J S
JS
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sank-Yuk Dong Puk-Ku, Taegu 702-701, South Korea.
Choi
M S
MS
Jeon
S M
SM
Jeong
T S
TS
Park
Y B
YB
Lee
M K
MK
Bok
S H
SH
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013261:Sterols / Q000737:chemistry; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
C469894:3,4-di(OH)-cinnamate; D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D002934:Cinnamates; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D013261:Sterols; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase