title: Hypocholesterolemic effects of nutraceuticals produced from the red microalga Porphyridium sp in rats.
abstract: Red microalgae contain functional sulfated polysaccharides (containing dietary fibers), polyunsaturated fatty acids, zeaxanthin, vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Studies in rat models support the therapeutic properties of algal biomass and isolated polysaccharides. Algal products incorporated into rat diets were found to significantly improve total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, hepatic cholesterol levels, HDL/LDL ratios and increased fecal excretion of neutral sterols and bile acids. Morphological and metabolic changes were induced by consumption of algal products. These results suggest that red microalgae can be used as potent hypocholesterolemic agents, and they support the potential use of red microalgae as novel nutraceuticals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel. iritd@sapir.ac.il
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dvir
authors.forename: Aliza Hannah
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chayoth
authors.forename: Zecharia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Madar
authors.forename: Shoshana Malis
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arad
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*; D013261:Sterols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013261:Sterols