Flavonoids from Garcinia cambogia lower lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic rats

Administration of flavonoids from Garcinia cambogia, at a dose of 1 mg 100 g(-1) body weight day(-1), significantly lowered lipid levels in rats fed normal and cholesterol-containing diets. beta -Hydroxy beta -methyl glutaryl coenzyme A. reductase showed significant reduction in normocholesterolemic rats. Activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase were reduced significantly. Highly stimulated activities of the enzymes lipoprotein lipase and plasma lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase were noted in flavonoid-administered animals. Hepatic and fecal bile acids and fecal neutral sterols were elevated substantially, indicating a higher rate of degradation of cholesterol. Thus hypolipidemic activity of these flavonoids may be due to a lower rate of lipogenesis and higher rate of degradation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.