Regulatory/modulatory effect of prune essence concentrate on intestinal function and blood lipids.
BACKGROUND
Prunus domestica Linn (Rosaceae) has been considered a functional food, owing to its various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer.


OBJECTIVE
This placebo-controlled, randomized study was framed to check the beneficial activity of prune essence concentrates (PEC) in corroboration with intestinal function and lipid profile in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects.


METHODS
Sixty healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomly chosen and segregated into three groups as placebo (consume 50 mL of simulated prune drink), PEC I (consume 50 mL of PEC/day) and PEC II (consume 100 mL of PEC/day) for 4 weeks with 2 weeks of follow-up without PEC consumption.


RESULTS
Intake of PEC (I and II) for 4 weeks substantially ameliorated (p < 0.05) the colony number of Bifidobacterium spp. (1.18- and 1.19-fold) and Lactobacillus spp. (1.07- and 1.16-fold), but markedly lowered (p < 0.05) the colony number of Clostridium perfringens (5.97 and 8.35%) and Escherichia coli (6.25 and 9.38%). Meanwhile, the total cholesterol (TC; 5.90 and 6.99%) levels and LDL-c (6.68 and 6.53%) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), but no change in other lipid parameters. Whereas, the antioxidant capacity was also concomitantly elevated (p < 0.05) upon administration with PEC.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, the results suggest that the use of PEC may positively regulate the intestinal microflora and thereby effectively lower the TC levels and thus act as a hypocholesterolemic agent.
a Department of Chinese Medicine , Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Well-being , Taichung , Taiwan , ROC.
Hui-Fang
HF
Chiu
b School of Nutrition , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
Yun-Chien
YC
Huang
c Department of Neurology , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
Yan-Ying
YY
Lu
b School of Nutrition , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
Yi-Chun
YC
Han
d School of Health Diet and Industry Management , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
You-Cheng
YC
Shen
e ITMO University , Saint-Peterburg , Russia.
Oksana
O
Golovinskaia
b School of Nutrition , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
Kamesh
K
Venkatakrishnan
b School of Nutrition , Chung Shan Medical University , Taichung City , Taiwan , ROC.
Chin-Kun
CK
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D000068242:Prunus domestica / Q000737:chemistry*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
Hypercholesterolemic; antioxidant capacity; intestinal microflora; lipid profile