An Extract from Prickly Pear Peel (Opuntia ficus-indica) Affects Cholesterol Excretion and Hepatic Cholesterol Levels in Hamsters Fed Hyperlipidemic Diets

Title:An Extract from Prickly Pear Peel (Opuntia ficus-indica) Affects Cholesterol Excretion and Hepatic Cholesterol Levels in Hamsters Fed Hyperlipidemic Diets

Volume: 12 Issue: 1

Author(s): Ada K. Milán-Noris, Rocio A. Chavez-Santoscoy, Andrea Olmos-Nakamura, Janet A. Gutiérrez-Uribe and Sergio O. Serna-Saldívar

Affiliation:

Keywords: Byproduct, hamster, hypocholesterolemic effect, phytosterol, prickly pear peel.

Abstract: The effect of a prickly pear peel extract on cholesterol excretion and plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels in hamsters with induced hypercholesterolemia was investigated. Female and male hamsters were fed for 5 weeks with experimental diets: NC, normal cholesterol diet; HC, hypocholesterolemic diet; HCOp, HC with prickly pear peel extract and HCPh, HC with phytosterols. Male and females hamsters fed HCOp diet increased their neutral fecal sterols (cholesterol + coprastanol) excretion by 77% (p<0.042) and 120% (p<0.003), respectively, compared to counterparts fed HC diet. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly reduced only in male hamsters fed HCPh. The phytosterols content in HCOp diet was almost 5 fold less compared to HCPh, and both treatments have reduced 35% (p<0.0001) hepatic cholesterol compared to hamsters fed the HC diet. Thus, the prickly pear peel extract rich in phytosterols showed a hypocholesterolemic effect. This evidence suggests that the prickly pear byproduct tested herein has potential to be employed as ingredient or supplement to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Cite this article as:

K. Milán-Noris Ada, A. Chavez-Santoscoy Rocio, Olmos-Nakamura Andrea, A. Gutiérrez-Uribe Janet and O. Serna-Saldívar Sergio, An Extract from Prickly Pear Peel (Opuntia ficus-indica) Affects Cholesterol Excretion and Hepatic Cholesterol Levels in Hamsters Fed Hyperlipidemic Diets, Current Bioactive Compounds 2016; 12 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573407212666151231183553