MECHANISM OF HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC EFFECT OF OYSTER MUSHROOM (PLEUROTUS-OSTREATUS) IN RATS - REDUCTION OF CHOLESTEROL ABSORPTION AND INCREASEOF PLASMA-CHOLESTEROL REMOVAL

The content of cholesterol in the serum and liver of male Wistar rats fed, for the period of 8 weeks shortly after weaning, a diet containin g 0.3% of cholesterol was reduced by 33 and 27% by the addition of 5% of dried oyster mushroom powder. Although the level of serum triacylgl ycerols was not affected by oyster mushroom, their content in liver of rats on mushroom diet was reduced by 41%. Very-low-density lipoprotei ns and low-density lipoproteins participated by 55 and 38%, respective ly, in the total reduction of serum cholesterol. Cholesterol content i n high-density lipoproteins was not significantly affected by oyster m ushroom. Cholesterol absorption as determined by dual-isotope plasma r atio method was significantly reduced by 14% with oyster mushroom diet . Similarly, this diet increased by 42% the fractional catabolic rate of cholesterol determined by the analysis of decay curve of [4-C-14]ch olesterol.