EFFECT OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS-OSTREATUS) AND ITS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT IN DIET ON ABSORPTION AND TURNOVER OF CHOLESTEROL IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RAT

The effect of the diet containing 5% of powdered oyster mushroom (Pleu rotus ostreatus) or an equivalent amount of mushroom ethanolic extract on cholesterol content in serum and liver, on its distribution in lip oproteins, absorption and turnover was studied in male Wistar rats (in itial body weight about 70 g) fed a diet with 0.3% cholesterol. 12 wee ks of feeding with whole oyster mushroom or mushroom extract reduced c holesterol level in serum by 52 and 33%, respectively. However, choles terol content in liver was reduced only by whole oyster mushroom (by 2 0%). Diminished serum cholesterol level was mediated in 60% by reducti on of cholesterol in very-low-density lipoproteins. Both whole oyster mushroom and mushroom extract increased the concentration of cholester ol in high-density lipoproteins. Consuming whole oyster mushroom decre ased cholesterol absorption (estimated by dual-isotope plasma ratio me thod) by nearly 16% while no significant effect of mushroom extract co uld be demonstrated. Feeding the diet containing whole oyster mushroom or its extract reduced the half-times of decay curve of cholesterol-4 -C-14 by 29 and 35%, respectively and reciprocally increased the fract ional catabolic rare of plasma cholesterol.