Plasma Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Alpiniae katsumadaii Extract as an Inhibiter of Pancreatic Cholesterol Esterase Activity

Ethanol extract of Alpiniae Katsumadaii semen inhibited potently cholesterol esterase activity in vitro. Chloroform fraction of ethanol extract showed the stronger inhibitory effect than other solvent fractions-ethylacetate fraction, butanol fraction, and aqueous fraction. The chloroform frac ion of Alpiniae katsumadaii semen were studied as a candidator of plasma cholesterol lowering material in high cholesterol-fed rats. In high cholesterol-fed rats, the diet with chloroform fraction of 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg lowered not only plasma neutral lipids contents 25.9% and 26.5% but also plasma total cholesterol level 11.8% and 20.8%, respectively. Plasma HDL-cholesterol level and Atherogenic Index(AI) in Alpiniae chloroform fraction-fed rats were recovered as those level of normal rats.