Abstract
Blue-green algae, Nostoc commune and Aphanothece sacrum suringar contain much amounts of dietary fiber. Pectin-like substance (OOSS) was extracted from the algae by the method of ammonium oxalate-oxalic acid solution. The hypocholesterolemic effect of the two kinds of algae and OOSS obtained from them was examined in the rats fed a cholesterol diet.
The atherogenic diets containing 5% algae and 1.65% OOSS from ishikurage or 1.50% OOSS from suizenji-nori were given to five-week-old Wistar rats for 21 days. Serum and liver cholesterol concentrations were significantly depressed in those rats fed ishikurage and OOSS from the both algae, however, suizenji-nori did not affect serum and liver cholesterol concentration.
Among them, OOSS found in ishikurage was the most effective in lowering the serum and liver cholesterol concentrations.
