WATER-SOLUBLE VISCOUS SUBSTANCE OF JEWS MELLOW LEAVES LOWERS SERUM AND LIVER CHOLESTEROL CONCENTRATIONS AND INCREASES FECAL STEROID-EXCRETION IN RATS FED A HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIET

The effect of Jew's mellow leaf powder and its water soluble viscous s ubstance on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed a high cholesterol diet was examined. When compared to the controls, total serum and liver ch olesterol concentrations were significantly decreased or tended to dec rease in the groups given dry powder of fresh Jew's mellow leaves, dry powder purchased from the market or residual powder after extracting with ethanol, whereas no difference was observed in those given residu al powder after extracting with water. There were significant increase s or increasing tendencies in the fecal excretion of bile acids, total neutral sterols and cholesterol in those fed the experimental diets w hen compared to the control group. Rats fed a diet containing a water- soluble viscous substance (1.7%, about 1% as dietary fiber) obtained f rom the dry powder of Jew's mellow leaves showed significant decreases in serum and liver cholesterol concentrations and increases in fecal excretions of bile acids and neutral sterols. Based on the above, the component of dry powder of Jew's mellow leaves that is effective in de creasing serum and liver cholesterol concentrations was found to be a soluble dietary fiber, and the mechanism was assumed to be largely due to the increased excretion of bile acids and neutral sterols.