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The effects of liquid culture of Coriolus (C) versicolor on weight gain, food intakes, food efficiency ratios, serum and hepatic lipid concentrations were investigated in male rats fed the high cholesterol diets. Eight weeks old Sprague-Dawley rats were given three different types of diet for six weeks, respectively: a control diet (20% fat + 0.5% cholesterol), two kinds of C versicolor diet (control diet + 30% or 40% C. versicolor in water) according to the levels of C. versicolor supplementation. The body weight gains of the rats fed 30% or 40% C. versicolor diets were lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The food intake, food efficiency ratios, and liver, kidney, epididymal fat pad weights of the rats fed 30% or 40% C. versicolor diets were similar to those of the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations of hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride in the rats fed 30% or 40% C. versicolor diets were significantly lower than those in the rats fed the control diet. The concentrations in serum total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol, and atherogenic index ratios were significantly lower in the rats fed 30% or 40% C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol ratios was significantly higher in the rats fed 30% or 40% C. versicolor diets compared to those fed the control diet. The fecal excretion of total lipid and triglyceride in the rats fed 40% C. versicolor diet was significantly higher than that of the rats fed the control diet. There were no significant difference found in the serum triglyceride, phospholipid and HDL-cholesterol concentrations among the experimental groups. These results showed that the C. versicolor feeding decreased the hepatic cholesterol, triglyceride, and the serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index, and increased the serum HDL-cholesterol/totalcholesterol ratio of the rats.
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