EFFECTS OF FRUIT-JUICES OF CITRUS-SINENSIS L AND CITRUS-LIMON L ON EXPERIMENTAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA IN THE RAT

In Citrus juices there are various substances of different chemical na ture, some of which possess already-known hypocholesterolemic properti es. Therefore it has seemed interesting to evaluate the effects of a p rolonged administration of lyophilized juices of Citrus sinensis L. Os beck and Citrus limon L. Burm fil. in diet-induced rat hypercholestero lemia. Lyophilized Citrus juices were administered for 15 days (by gav age, at the dose of 5 g/kg in aqueous veicle in a volume oi 0.5 ml/100 g body weight) and 30 days (''ad libitum'', instead of tap water, 5 g /kg in 1 ml opportunely diluted with water in the proportion 1:3). Cho lesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels were assayed. The re sults obtained showed that Citrus juices significantly increase HDL an d lower cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride plasma levels in the rat. In particular, Citrus limon has more marked effect on cholesterol and tr iglyceride levels, Citrus sinensis is more able to increase HDL levels . Therefore, the prolonged use of Citrus sinensis and Citrus limon jui ces determines a considerable protection against insurgence of hyperch olesterolemia. This experimental design does not allow us to determine the active principles to which pharmacological effects may possibly b e attributed; but, on the other hand, it let us reproduce experimental ly a situation similar to the inclusion of the Citrus juices in the hu man diet, which results in low, but continuous, body levels of their a ctive principles.