Short communicationHigh molecular weight persimmon tannin is a potent hypolipidemic in high-cholesterol diet fed rats

Aimed to elucidate whether high molecular weight persimmon tannin (HMWPT) is responsible for the hypolipidemic effect of consuming persimmon fruit, the effects of HMWPT on high-cholesterol diet fed rats were investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 2% high-cholesterol diet and treated with different dosages of HMWPT or without HMWPT for 9 weeks, lipids and antioxidant profiles were examined and the morphology of livers was checked as well. The results indicated that HMWPT effectively reduced serum and hepatic triglyceride, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol while increased the serum and hepatic high density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05). In addition, 100 mg/kg body weight per day of HMWPT treatment could significantly enhance the serum lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activity and fecal bile acids excretion (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, accumulation of hepatic lipid droplets and hepatic steatosis induced by high-cholesterol diet was inhibited markedly by HMWPT. Furthermore, high-cholesterol diet induced oxidative stress in rats but HMWPT significantly increased the decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), elevated the lowered total anti-oxidation capability (T-AOC), (p < 0.05), and decreased the raised malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.05) in serum or liver. These results suggested that HMWPT was responsible for the hypocholesterolemic effect of persimmon fruit and it might exert the hypolipidemic effect through stimulating serum LCAT activity, enhancing fecal bile acids excretion and improving antioxidant profile.

► HMWPT exerted potent hypolipidemic effect in high-cholesterol fed rats. ► HMWPT alleviated hepatic lipid droplets and hepatic steatosis. ► HMWPT enhanced the antioxidant capacity.