Hypolipidemic activity of the polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera

Enteromorpha prolifera is an edible alga that is used as a traditional herb to treat many diseases. This study prepared E. prolifera polysaccharides (EPPs) and determined their hypolipidaemic activity in rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and fed with diets containing either high fat (HF), EPPs or normal fat (NF) for 6 weeks. Compared with the HF group, the EPP group showed decreased body weight gain, plasma triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (TC), plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, liver TG, liver TC and liver weight. The faecal fat, cholesterol and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of the EPP group were higher than those of the NF and HF groups. Results suggested that EPPs had a high hypolipidaemic activity and could be a suitable alternative hypolipidaemic source for humans.