title: Corn silk extract improves cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor α were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, 152, Juljeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yonin-si, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Science Technology, 300 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk 54875, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Rim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Science Technology, 300 Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk 54875, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, Dankook University, 119, Dandae-ro, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam 31116, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, 152, Juljeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yonin-si, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Ae Wha
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, 152, Juljeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yonin-si, Gyeonggi 16890, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Kyoung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Corn silk; adiponectin; cholesterol; high-fat; maysin