Plasma triacylglycerol‐lowering activity of citrus polymethoxylated flavones is mediated by modulating the genes involved in lipid metabolism in hamsters

Abstract

The present study investigated the underlying mechanism by which citrus polymethoxylated flavones (PMF) reduced plasma triacylglycerols (TG) in hamsters. Four groups of male hamsters were given a non‐cholesterol diet (NCD), a high cholesterol diet (HCD), a high cholesterol diet with supplementation of 0.5% PMF (L‐PMF), and a high cholesterol diet with supplementation of 1.0% PMF (H‐PMF), respectively, for 8 weeks. Results showed PMF could lower plasma TG by 32–46%, but it had no effect on plasma cholesterol. This was accompanied by down‐regulation of mRNA of liver sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c (SREBP1c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα) while up‐regulation of liver lipoprotein lipase (LPL). In addition, dietary PMF increased cholesterol by 5–15% and total lipids by 34–43% in the liver. PMF supplementation also reduced the body weight gain and the relative weights of white adipose tissue pads by 23–39%, possibly by decreasing the gene expression of FAS and LPL in the epididymal fat pad. It was concluded that plasma TG‐lowering activity of dietary PMF was mediated by modulating genes involved in lipid metabolism in hamsters.Practical applications: Hyperlipidemia is one of the risk factors for coronary heart diseases. The present study found that polymethoxylated flavones (PMF) were effective in reducing plasma triacylglycerols and adipose tissue weight. PMF may be developed as a nutraceutical to prevent hyperlipidemia and obesity.Citrus polymethoxylated flavones are able to reduce plasma triacylglycerols via two mechanisms of inhibition of lipogenesis and enhancement of lipid uptake by the liver, most likely mediated by down‐regulation of SREBP1c and FAS along with up‐regulation of LPL in the liver.