Sorghum extracts reduced hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis in mice fed high cholesterol diet

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate that the sorghum extract reduces hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed either a modified AIN‐93G diet or a modified AIN‐93G diet with 2% cholesterol for 8 weeks. During the last 4 weeks of diets, normal control group was orally administered saline (NC) and 2% cholesterol diet groups were received either saline (HC) or 600mg sorghum extract per kg body weight (S). There were no significant differences in daily intake, body weight, and weights of various organs. However, liver weight was significantly higher in mice fed HC than NC and S groups. Levels of serum total‐ and LDL‐cholesterol were significantly lower in NC and S groups than HC group, while levels of HDL‐cholesterol were significantly higher in NC and S groups than HC group. Serum levels of triglyceride were not significantly different, but hepatic triglyceride and total‐cholesterol levels were significantly lower in S and NC groups than HC group. The expression of AMPK, phosphor‐AMPK, HMGCR and SREBP2, were significantly lower in S group than HC group. However, there were no significant differences in the expression of FAS and CYP7A1 between HC and S groups. In conclusion, our results suggested that sorghum extract significantly reduced blood levels of cholesterol by down‐regulation of the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis.