Cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant status-improving efficacy of germinated giant embryonic rice (Oryza sativa L.) in high cholesterol-fed rats.
Mo kle
Abstrè
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the current study is to investigate the influence of germinated giant embryonic rice consumption on the lipid metabolism and antioxidant system in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet.
METHODS
Four groups of rats were given a diet containing 1 g cholesterol/kg for 5 weeks. The control group only received a high-cholesterol diet, while the other 3 experimental groups received each of the diets made of germinated giant embryonic rice, giant embryonic rice, or conventional brown rice (hereafter referred to as GGE-D, GE-D, and BR-D, respectively). Plasma and hepatic lipid profiles were measured, and the antioxidant status of liver was examined.
RESULTS
The plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly higher in rats fed GGE-D compared with the source material (GE-D) or BR-D, while there were no differences in the plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations between the groups. Consequently, the atherogenic indices of the GGE-D and GE-D groups were significantly lower than for the other groups. The plasma and hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels were higher in rats in the order of those fed BR-D > GE-D > GGE-D. While superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly activated in rats fed both GGE-D and GE-D, glutathione peroxidase was significantly and most effectively activated in those fed GGE-D.
CONCLUSIONS
The current results indicate that consumption of germinated giant embryonic rice is effective in lowering atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease risk.
