Abstract
The effects of mulberry leaves on lipid metabolism were investigated in male rabbits fed a hypercholesterol diet containing 1% cholesterol. Fresh mulberry leaves (ML) were dried using a tea machinery, and mulberry extract (ME) was prepared from the ML using hot water. ML or ME ranging from 1.25% to 10% was added to the 1% cholesterol diet (Ch) or a normal diet. The rabbits were fed the Ch diet containing 2.5% or 10% ML (2.5ML·Ch and 10ML·Gh) for 16 weeks. Increases in the concentration of serum tatal cholesterol and levels of other lipids were significantly suppressed in the 2.5ML·Ch and 10ML·Ch diet groups compared with those in the Ch group. Furthermore, suppression of hepatic enlargement and fat deposition in the hepatic cells was observed in both the 2.5ML·Ch and 10ML·Ch groups. However, the hypolipidemic effects were more prominent in the 2.5ML·Ch diet group than in the 10ML·Ch diet group. When rabbits were fed the ML·Ch or ME·Ch diet for 12 weeks after receiving the Ch diet for 4 weeks, suppressive effects were also observed. These findings suggest that mulberry leaves exert hypolipidemic effects in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
