The hypocholesterolemic action of eritadenine in the rat

Abstract

The hypolipidemic properties of eritadenine, an adenine derivative isolated from the Japanese mushroom Lentinus edodes, were investigated in rats with an emphasis on the effect on plasma cholesterol. Eritadenine lowered all the plasma lipid levels (cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid) and it was more than 10 times as active as clofibrate when administered in the diet. Large oral doses of eritadenine produced a hypocholesterolemic effect 3 hours after administration. Plasma free cholesterol was more affected than esterified cholesterol. Parenteral routes of administration did not seem to be as effective as the oral route. Dietary hypercholesterolemia was also suppressed by eritadenine. The acute Triton-induced hyperlipidemia was slightly suppressed by eritadenine, but proportionally less than in the normal rat. Although adenosine showed no effect on the hypocholesterolemic action of eritadenine, a twenty-fold excess of adenine may have interfered with the action of eritadenine.