Lower absorption of cholesteryl oleate in rats supplemented with Areca catechu L. extract

Areca catechu L. extracts I and II, prepared using two different solvent sy stems, exhibited strong inhibitory activities against pancreatic cholestero l esterase (pCEase) in vitro. To determine their cholesterol-towering effec ts, these two extracts were investigated by analyzing plasma lipid levels, intestinal enzyme activities, and the absorption of cholesteryl oleate. For 6 days, male rats were fed a diet containing cholesteryl oleate (0.5 g/100 g of body weight) either with or without the Areca nut extract supplements . The supplementation of the two Areca nut extracts significantly lowered t he concentrations of plasma cholesterol by 13.4 and 11.7% and plasma trigly cerides by 35.0 and 36.9%, respectively, compared with the pre-experimental values. However, when the cholesteryl oleate diet was fed without any Arec a nut extract in high-cholesterol control, the plasma cholesterol and trigl yceride concentrations significantly increased by 13.6 and 15.9%, respectiv ely, compared with the preexperimental va lues. After 6 days of treatment, the intestinal pCEase activities were significantly lower in the groups sup plemented with the Areca nut extracts (37.8 and 26.5%) than in the group wi th no extract supplement (83.2%). The supplements also significantly elevat ed the excretion of [1,2(n)-H-3]cholesteryl oleate administered orally, whe n determined by the large intestinal contents, 930.5 Bq/day (Areca I) and 1 ,766.3 Bq/day (Areca II) vs. 98.1 Bq/day (high-cholesteryl oleate (CO) cont rol). The inhibition of pCEase activity with the supplementation of the Are ca nut extracts could account for the decrease in [1,2(n)-H-3]cholesteryl o leate absorption that resulted in decreased radioactivity in blood. Copyrig ht (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.