Chlorogenic acid exhibits cholesterol lowering and fatty liver attenuating properties by up-regulating the gene expression of PPAR-α in hypercholesterolemic rats induced with a high-cholesterol diet.
Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Natural compounds have been proved to be useful in lowering serum cholesterol to slow down the progression of cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In the present study, the hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects of the dietary consumption of chlorogenic acid were investigated by monitoring plasma lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein) in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with a normal diet, a high-cholesterol diet or a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with chlorogenic acid (1 or 10 mg/kg/day p.o.) for 28 days. Chlorogenic acid markedly altered the increased plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein but decreased high-density lipoprotein induced by a hypercholesterolemic diet with a dose-dependent improvement on both atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor. Lipid depositions in liver were attenuated significantly in hypercholesterolemic animals supplemented with chlorogenic acid. It is postulated that hypocholesterolemic effect is the primary beneficial effect given by chlorogenic acid, which leads to other secondary beneficial effects such as atheroscleroprotective, cardioprotective and hepatoprotective functions. The hypocholesterolemic functions of chlorogenic acid are probably due to the increase in fatty acids unitization in liver via the up-regulation of peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor α mRNA.
Food Safety and Technology Research Centre, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Chun-Wai
CW
Wan
Candy Ngai-Yan
CN
Wong
Wing-Kwan
WK
Pin
Marcus Ho-Yin
MH
Wong
Ching-Yee
CY
Kwok
Robbie Yat-Kan
RY
Chan
Peter Hoi-Fu
PH
Yu
Shun-Wan
SW
Chan
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D047493:PPAR alpha; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid