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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Cholesterol-lowering effects and potential mechanisms of chitooligosaccharide capsules in hyperlipidemic rats
Yao Jiang1,2, Chuhan Fu1,2, Guihua Liu3
1Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Natural Products and New Drugs, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
Chitooligosaccharide (COS) has shown potential antihyperlipidemic activity in a few studies as a functional food.
Method:
We investigated the cholesterol-lowering effect and potential mechanisms of chitooligosaccharide capsules (COSTC) in male SD rats fed a high-fat diet.
Results:
COSTC could ameliorate serum lipid levels. Simultaneously, the cholesterol-lowering effect is probably attributed to its role in two pathways: upregulating the gene expression and activity of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), liver X receptor alpha (LXRA), and peroxisome proliferation activated receptor-α (PPARα), which facilitates the conversion of cholesterol into bile acid; downregulating the gene expression and activity of enzymes including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and sterol-responsive element binding protein-2 (SREBP2) and upregulating the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) to reduce the denovo synthesis of cholesterol.
Conclusion:
Studies have suggested that COSTC has potential usefulness as a natural supplement or functional food for preventing and treating hyperlipidemia.
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