Pectin pentasaccharide from hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. Var. major) ameliorates disorders of cholesterol metabolism in high-fat diet fed mice

•The serum and hepatic TC levels were significantly decreased by HPPS.•HPPS significantly increased the fecal bile acid level.•HPPS inhibited the expression of cholesterol biosynthesis related genes.•HPPS upregulated the gene expression and enzyme activity of CYPT7A1.

The effects of haw pectin pentasaccharide (HPPS) on hypercholesterolemia were investigated in high-fat fed mice. HPPS significantly decreased the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and hepatic TC. It also significantly decreased the activities and gene expressions of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyl-transferase (ACAT) in the liver. While, the serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), fecal bile acids, and the activity and gene expressions of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were significantly increased by HPPS administration. Moreover, HPPS tended to increase the fecal TC level and to down-regulate the expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2) and LDL receptor in the liver, but no statistical significance was detected. The results revealed that HPPS have great potential in the development of functional food to improve cholesterol metabolism.