Effects of mulberry leaf extract feeding on lipid status of rats fed high cholesterol diets

This study was to investigate the effect of mulberry leaf water extract on lipid metabolism of rats fed high cholesterol diets. Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly assigned to two normal groups; mulberry extract- free (N), 0.16% mulberry leaf extract (NM) groups and high cholesterol groups with four different levels of mulberry leaf extract; 0% (HC), 0.08% (HCL), 0.16% (HCM), and 0.32% mulberry leaf extract (HCH) groups. Serum levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and A1 index in mulberry leaf extract supplemented groups were. significantly lower than the HC group (p<0.05). The level of HDL-cholesterol in the HC group was significantly (p<0.05) reduced, compared with N group, but it was increased by mulberry leaf extract supplementation. Mulberry leaf extract had no effect on the UDP-glucuronyl transferase activity. Also, there was no significant difference in the level of liver cholesterol between the HC and mulberry leaf extract supplemented groups, while there was significant difference in the levels of liver totat lipid and triglyceride. The HCM and HCH groups had more significant reduction in the activity of lipoprotein lipase in epididymal fat tissue than the HC group. The levels of total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol in epididymal fat tissue of HCL, HCM and HCH groups were decreased compared to HC group. The levels of total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol in feces from HCL, HCM and HCH groups were higher than those of HC group.