Thymus atlanticus polyphenol-rich extract regulates cholesterol metabolism by inhibiting its biosynthesis without affecting its excretion in hamsters fed a high-fat diet.

CONTEXT: Thymus atlanticus has been reported to have significant hypolipidaemic effect in animal models. However, the mechanism of this hypolipidaemic action still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determinate the possible mechanism(s) of hypolipidaemic action of a Thymus atlanticus polyphenol-rich extract (PRE).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Plasma, faecal, and liver cholesterol, bile acid content in the faeces, and gene expression level of HMG-CoA reductase, CYP7A1, ABCG5 and ABCG8 were analysed after 9 weeks in hamsters feeding normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD) or HFD supplemented with 400 mg/kg body weight/day of PRE.

RESULTS

PRE significantly decreased total cholesterol content (p < .05) and HMG-CoA reductase expression (p < .05), but did not affect the faecal cholesterol, bile acid contents and CYP7A1 and ABCG5/G8 expression (p > .05).

CONCLUSION

We can conclude that the T. atlanticus extract is efficient in the alleviation of chronic hyperlipidaemia by acting as cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitor.