High hydrostatic pressure extract of garlic increases the HDL cholesterol level via up-regulation of apolipoprotein A-I gene expression in rats fed a high-fat diet.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of mortality worldwide and a low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level is an important marker of CVD risk. Garlic (Allium sativum) has been widely used in the clinic for treatment of CVD and regulation of lipid metabolism. This study investigated the effects of a high hydrostatic pressure extract of garlic (HEG) on HDL-C level and regulation of hepatic apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) gene expression.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups and maintained on a high-fat control diet (CON) or high-fat control diet supplemented with high hydrostatic pressure extract of garlic (HEG) for 5 weeks. Changes in the expression of genes related to HDL-C metabolism were analyzed in liver, together with biometric and blood parameters.


RESULTS
In the HEG group, the plasma triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly decreased in comparison with the CON group (P < 0.05). Dietary HEG also lowered the hepatic TG and total cholesterol (TC) levels compared to the CON group. While the plasma HDL-C level and mRNA level of hepatic apoA-I, which is one of primarily proteins of HDL-C particle, were significantly increased in the HEG group compared to the CON group (P < 0.05). The gene expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), importantly involved in the biogenesis in HDL, were also up-regulated by dietary HEG.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that HEG ameliorates plasma lipid profiles and attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation in the high-fat fed rats. Our findings provides that the effects of HEG on the increase of the plasma HDL-C level was at least partially mediated by up-regulation of hepatic genes expression such as apoA-I, ABCA1, and LCAT in rats fed a high-fat diet.
Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seohyun
S
Lee
Hyunjin
H
Joo
Chong-Tai
CT
Kim
In-Hwan
IH
Kim
Yangha
Y
Kim
D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005737:Garlic; D006874:Hydrostatic Pressure; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D064286:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase