Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Properties of Phenolic Compound-Rich Extracts from White Ginseng (Panax ginseng) in Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

In this study, the effect of low-molecular weight white ginseng compounds on various biochemical indices, including blood lipid concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activities and morphological changes was investigated in rabbits with high cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. The experime...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Young-Chan Kim, Young-Chul Lee, Hee-Do Hong, Chang-Won Cho, Lan-Sook Lee, Ung-Kyu Choi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2013-10-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/18/10/12548
Description
Summary:In this study, the effect of low-molecular weight white ginseng compounds on various biochemical indices, including blood lipid concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activities and morphological changes was investigated in rabbits with high cholesterol diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. The experimental animals were 16-week-old male New Zealand white rabbits divided into normal control diet, high cholesterol diet, and high cholesterol with 0.05% white ginseng low-molecule compound groups, treated for 4 weeks. Blood lipid concentrations were higher in the high cholesterol groups compared to the normal control group but were not improved by the white ginseng low-molecular weight compound. We note however that antioxidant enzyme activities and morphological changes of the aorta showed that white ginseng small compounds had a positive effect on hypercholesterolemia. Based on such results, low-molecular weight compounds rich in phenolic compounds in white ginseng can be said to be effective in part in improving hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis induced by a high cholesterol diet among New Zealand white rabbits.
ISSN:1420-3049