STUDY ON THE MECHANISM OF HYPOLIPEMIC EFFECT OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS-OSTREATUS) EXTRACTS IN SYRIAN-HAMSTER

In Syrian hamsters, we examined the effect of concentrated extracts (3 0 % ethanol) from dried or fresh oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) during 8 weeks of ad ministration, on lipids of serum, liver and hear t as well as triacylglycerols secretion rate (TGSR) and fractional tur nover rate (FTR) of cholesterol. Both extracts were added into hyperli pemizing diet in amount corresponding to 2 % addition of dried whole m ushroom. Both extracts decreased the level of serum cholesterol (C) an d triacylglycerols (TG) by 18-21 %, but the content of tissue lipids w as not affected. They also reduced TGSR values by 40-60 %, shortened t he half-time of C-14 and reciprocally increased FTR values of plasma C by 70-90 %. Both given mechanisms reduction of very low density lipop roteins entry into circulation and acceleration of C removal from plas ma pool-participated in the mechanism of hypolipemic effect of oyster mushroom.