Abstract
The effect of catechin on lipid metabolism was investigated in rats. Catechin at doses ranging from 0.1 to 100mg/kg BW was administered daily by gastric incubation to rats fed a normal laboratory diet. Catechin exerted no negative impact of food intake and thereby no retardation of growth. Maximum hypocholesterolemic activity was detected at a dose of 10mg/kg BW/day. The hypocholesterolemic activity of the drug was found not to be due to a decreased cholesterogenesis, but to a higher rate of degradation and excretion of cholesterol.
