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

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,...