title: Hypocholesterolemic metabolism of dietary red pericarp glutinous rice rich in phenolic compounds in mice fed a high cholesterol diet.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of red pericarp glutinous rice rich in polyphenols (Jakwangchalbyeo, red rice) on serum and hepatic levels of cholesterol and hepatic protein expression linked to synthesis and degradation of cholesterol in a hypercholesterolemic mice diet as compared with brown rice.
  
  
  METHODS
  C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 5 each), which were fed different diets for a period of 12 weeks: American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93G diet, AIN-93G diet with 2% cholesterol, brown rice with 2% cholesterol, or red rice with 2% cholesterol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of red rice resulted in a significant decrease in serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and hepatic levels of triglyceride and total-cholesterol. Expression of acyl-coenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase-2 (ACAT-2), sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 (SREBP-2), and 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was decreased, while expression of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (p-AMPK)/AMPK ratio, cholesterol 7-α-hydroxylase (CYP7a1), and sterol 12-α-hydroxylase (CYP8b1) was increased in mice fed red rice. Brown rice had similar effects on cholesterol metabolism, but the effect of red rice was significantly greater than that of brown rice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study suggested that red rice had a hypocholesterolemic effect by lowering hepatic cholesterol synthesis through ACAT-2, HMG-CoA reductase, and SREBP-2, and by enhancing hepatic cholesterol degradation through CYP7a1 and CYP8b1 in mice fed a hypercholesterolemic diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, Wangsimni-ro 222, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Yongsoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Hanyang University, Wangsimni-ro 222, Seongdong-gu, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Mi
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Bioscience, College of Life and Environmental Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Bioscience, College of Life and Environmental Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Ill-Min
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chung
keywords: Red rice; cholesterol metabolism; liver; mice; protein expression