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KMID : 0351619720130010053
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Kyungpook Medical Journal
1972 Volume.13 No. 1 p.53 ~ p.60
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The Effect of Stigmasterol, Beta-Sitosterol and Alfalfa on the Intestinal Absorption of Cholesterol in Rats
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Abstract
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While there is as yet no definitive proof that the lowering of serum cholesterol concentration by either drugs or diet is effective in the prevention of atherosclerosis, there ;are strong suggestions that a series of plant sterol was effective in reducing serum cholesterol levels.
A number off` studies is currently being carried out to determine whether administration of plant sterol is useful in prevention of athero-sclerosis. Recently Cookson found that alfalfa suppressed the cholesterol induced-atherosclerosis in rabbits and suggested that it might prevent ntestinal absorption of cholesterol.
In attempt to confirm the effect of alfali`a on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol in rats, cholesterol levels in the serum and thoracic 15~mph were determined for twelve hours and comFiared with those of stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol.
The results obtained were as follows:
1. In group of basic diet-rats, there were no significant changes of cholesterol conce~itra-tions either in serum or thoracic lymph.
2. In cholesterol diet group, the levels of ~~hol-esterol in thoracic lymph reached the max-imum 4~6 hours after cholesterol adm~inistration and about one thirds of given oral dose was recovered in thoracic lymph by i2 hours
3. Stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and alfalfa qualitatively elicited the same inhibitory response on the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Alfalfa was most potent in this response.
In conclusion, it would thus appear that alfalfa might be useful in the preventin of atherosclerosis as an inhibitor of cholesterol absorption.
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