Phytosterol of lotus seed core powder alleviates hypercholesterolemia by regulating gut microbiota in high-cholesterol diet-induced C57BL/6J mice

The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of lotus seed core powder phytosterol extract(LSP-PE)on hypercholesterolemia and intestinal microbiota in high-cholesterol diet(HCD)-induced C57BL/6 J mice.Gavage with LSP-PE reduced levels of serum total cholesterol(TC),ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),hepatic TC,hepatic triglyceride(TG),hepatic LDL-C,hepatic very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL),fecal TC and fecal total bile acid(TBA),while augmented hepatic HDL-C content.In contrast with HCD group,high-dose LSP triggered significant diminutions of serum ALT,serum AST,hepatic ALT and hepatic AST levels in HCD-fed mice,which were 16.49,28.94,43.42,and 44.47%,respectively,thus remarkably ameliorating the pathological changes of liver and small intestine.Indepth genetic research found that LSP was effective in down-regulating the expression of cholesterol metabolism related genes including Niemannpick C1-like protein 1(NPC1L1),acyl-coA cholesterol acyl-transferase 2(ACAT2),microsomal triglyceride transporter(MTP)and ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 5(ABCG5).Moreover,LSP-PE could restore the disorder of intestinal flora via augmenting the Actinobacteria abundance as well as decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and abundances of Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia to regulate cholesterol metabolism-related genes.In summary,LSP-PE possessed excellent cholesterol-lowering activity by positively regulating the gut microbiota and the expression levels of genes related to cholesterol absorption and metabolism.Therefore,this work suggested LSP phytosterol as a potential supplement to alleviate the symptoms of hypercholesterolemia.