Abstract

This study was initiated to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect of Coriolus versicolor (CV) extracts in poloxamer 407 (P-407)-induced hypercholesterolaemic and high cholesterol-fed rats. In the chemically induced hypercholesterolaemic rat model, hypercholesterolaemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of P-407 (500mg/kg). Serum lipid levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, increased significantly (p<0.001) in the P-407-induced hypercholesterolaemic rats as compared to the normal control rats. Interestingly, CV extract administration caused a significant reduction in serum TC (p<0.01) and TG (p<0.05) levels in P-407-treated rats, as well as a reduction in the coronary risk index (CRI) in these rats. In the diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rat model, the rats were fed a high cholesterol diet containing (by weight) 2% cholesterol, 0.5% cholic acid and 10% butter. The serum TC and LDL-C levels of rats that were fed a high cholesterol diet increased significantly (p<0.001) after 14 days as compared to the rats fed a normal diet. Serum TC and LDL-C levels were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner in rats given CV extract orally and fed a high cholesterol diet for 14 days. The administration of CV extract also significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in rats fed a high cholesterol diet; in addition, CV extract reduced the CRI ratio. Hence, the 14 days administration of CV extract resulted in significant reductions in the lipid profiles of these rats compared to the untreated hypercholesterolemic rats. Our results suggest that the consumption of CV extract has the potential to reduce or prevent hypercholesterolaemia.

Key words: Hypercholesterolaemia, poloxamer 407, high cholesterol diet, Coriolus versicolor extract.