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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156391
Title: HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECT AND ABSORPTION OF CITRUS POLYMETHOXYLATED FLAVONES IN HAMSTERS WITH DIET-INDUCED HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Author
item KUROWSKA, ELZBIETA - KGK SYNERGIZE INC, CANADA
item Manthey, John

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/16/2004
Publication Date: 5/1/2004
Citation: Kurowska, E.M., Manthey, J.A. 2004. Hypolipidemic effect and absorption of citrus polymethoxylated flavones in hamsters with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Journal Of Agricultural And Food Chemistry. 52:2879-2866.

Interpretive Summary: The citrus chemical, tangeretin, was fed to hamsters that were administered a diet that led to atherosclerosis. The hamsters that were fed tangeretin exhibited significantly lowered serum total cholesterol and triglycerides. The effects were similar to those obtained with higher doses of other citrus chemicals previously obtained from orange peel. These findings indicate the potential cardioprotective effects of tangeretin and possible other related compounds for humans.

Technical Abstract: Formulations containing citrus polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), mainly tangeretin, or citrus flavanone glucosides, hesperidin and naringin, were evaluated for cholesterol-lowering potential in hamsters with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. PMF metabolites were also investigated. Diets containing 1% PMFs significantly reduced serum total and VLDL +LDL cholesterol (by 19-27% and 32-40%, respectively) and either reduced or tended to reduce serum triacylglycerols. Comparable reductions were achieved by feeding a 3% mixture of hesperidin and naringin (1:1, w/w), implying lower hypolipidemic potency of the hesperidin/naringin vs. PMFs. HPLC/MS analysis identified high serum, liver and urine concentrations of tangeretin metabolites including dihydroxytrimethoxyflavone and monohydroxytetramethoxyflavone glucuronides and aglycones. Total liver concentrations of tangeretin derivatives corresponded to hypolipidemic concentrations of intact tangeretin in earlier experiments in vitro. This suggests that PMFs are novel flavonoids with cholesterol- and triacylglycerol-lowering potential and that elevated levels of PMF metabolites in the liver might be directly responsible for their hypolipidemic effects in vivo.