Hypocholesterolemic effect of blue-green alga, ishikurage (Nostoc commune) in rats fed atherogenic diet

Abstract

Blue-green alga, Nostoc commune is rich in dietary fiber. To examine the hypocholesterolemic effect, the alga or the dietary fibers were given to the rats fed cholesterol diet. Serum cholesterol elevation was significantly depressed in those rats. Cholesterol increased in the liver of rats given the alga and the fiber. The content of fecal cholesterol and bile acid unchanged. Of the dietary fibers, oxalate-oxalic acid soluble substance (OOSS) found abundant in the alga was most effective in lowering cholesterol in the serum. It seems to depress the elevation of LDL-cholesterol. The mechanism of hypocholesterolemic effect by OOSS remains to be unclear. This study indicated that Nostoc commune is expected to be a new dietary fiber source of possible importance in human nutrition.

Hypolipidemic Effect of a Blue-Green Alga (Nostoc commune) Is Attributed to Its Nonlipid Fraction by Decreasing Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption in C57BL/6J Mice

“…BGA have been shown to exert health-promoting effects. 11,12,[24][25][26] We previously observed that NOE significantly repressed HMGR and LDLR expression through downregulation of the SREBP-2 pathway in HepG2 cells. 15 NOE also repressed the lipogenic gene expression by inhibiting the activation of SREBP-1.…”

“…sphaeroids Kützing (NO), of which SP is the most commonly commercialized and consumed species. [11][12][13][14][15] BGA have been recognized as a natural product with significant pharmaceutical potential, such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and enzyme inhibiting activities. [16][17][18] We previously reported that 5% NO supplementation significantly lowered plasma TC and TG levels in C57BL/6J mice with a concomitant increase in the expression of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), the ratelimiting enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis.…”

STUDIES ON POLYSACCHARIDES FROM THREE EDIBLE SPECIES OF NOSTOC (CYANOBACTERIA) WITH DIFFERENT COLONY MORPHOLOGIES: COMPARISON OF MONOSACCHARIDE COMPOSITIONS AND VISCOSITIES OF POLYSACCHARIDES FROM FIELD COLONIES AND SUSPENSION CULTURES

“…Bloor and England 1989, de Caire et al 1987. Nostoc commune has been reported to significantly depress serum cholesterol levels in rats (Hori et al 1994). This cholesterollowering activity may be due to ''dietary fiber,'' according to the author, but no details on this viscous product exist.…”

Nostoc genties melsvabakterių įvairovė ir jos apsauga Lietuvoje

“…Maistui naudojamos N. commune ir N. flagelliforme melsvabakterės gali būti naudingos ir įvairiais medicininiais tikslais: gydant vėžį, mažinant cholesterolio kiekį kraujyje ir kraujo krešulius. Manoma, kad toks gydomasis poveikis gali būti dėl išskiriamų polisacharidų (Hori et al 1994;Takenaka et al 1998). Iš N. commune išskirtas alkaloidas -nostokarbolinas -galėtų būti naudojamas Alzhaimerio ligai gydyti (Becher et al 2005).…”