Consumption of dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida (hawthorn) suppresses high-cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats

Ching Yee Kwok, Candy Ngai Yan Wong, Mabel Yin Chun Yau, Peter Hoi Fu Yu, Alice Lai Shan Au, Christina Chui Wa Poon, Sai Wang Seto, Tsz Yan Lam, Yiu Wa Kwan, Shun Wan Chan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The hypocholesterolemic and atheroscleroprotective potentials of dietary consumption of hawthorn (dried fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida, Shan Zha) were investigated by monitoring plasma lipid profiles and aortic relaxation in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with either normal diet, high-cholesterol diet (HCD) or HCD supplemented with hawthorn powder (2%, w/w) (4. weeks). In HCD-fed rats, an increased plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol with a decreased HDL-cholesterol was observed, and consumption of hawthorn markedly suppressed the elevated total cholesterol and LDL-lipoprotein levels plus an increased HDL-cholesterol level. The blunted acetylcholine-induced, endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated aortas of HCD-fed rats was improved by hawthorn. The development of fatty liver, an increased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and an elevated oxidative stress (as estimated by the attenuated levels of anti-oxidant enzymes) associated with HCD were attenuated by hawthorn. Thus, the results demonstrated that hawthorn consumption provides overall beneficial effects on reversing HCD associated detrimental changes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-186
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Functional Foods
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2010

Keywords

  • Cholesterol
  • Crataegus pinnatifida
  • Dietary supplement
  • Hawthorn
  • High-fat diet
  • Rat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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