Chinese green tea lowers cholesterol level through an increase in fecal lipid excretion

Lung Chen Tea, a Chinese green tea, has been found to lower serum and liver cholesterol. In this study, its dose response and mechanisms of action on cholesterol lowering in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic Sprague-Dawley ra ts were investigated. The activities of three major lipid metabolizing enzy mes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-Co A) reductase, cholestero l 7 alpha-hydroxylase and fatty acid synthase (FAS), as well as fecal excre tion of bile acids and cholesterol were examined. Lung Chen Tea administrat ion for eight weeks significantly lowered the serum cholesterol in the 2% a nd 4% groups. The activities of the three enzymes were not affected by Lung Chen Tea, but the fecal bile acids and cholesterol excretions were signifi cantly increased. These results demonstrated that Lung Chen Tea lowered pla sma cholesterol by increasing fecal bile acids and cholesterol excretion. F urther investigation is required to evaluate the exact mechanisms of action of Lung Chen Tea.