Effect of Red Pepper Seeds Powder on Lipid Composition in Rats Fed High-Fat.High-Cholesterol Diets

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of red pepper seeds powder on lipid metabolism in rats fed high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diet. Rats were divided into five experimental groups: normal diet group, high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diet group, high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diet with 5% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group (SA group), high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diet with 10% red pepper seeds powder supplemented group (SB group) and high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diet with 15% red peeper seeds powder supplemented group (SC group). The serum triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol contents, and LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) of the red pepper seed powder supplemented groups were significantly decreased compared to the HF group. The serum HDL-cholesterol contents of the red pepper seed powder supplemented groups were increased compared to the HF group. However, there was no significant difference in the serum HDL-cholesterol among all experimental groups. The hepatic TG and cholesterol contents of the red pepper seed powder supplemented groups were significantly decreased compared to the HF group. The fecal total cholesterol and triglyceride contents of the red pepper seeds powder supplemented groups were significantly increased compared to the HF group. These results suggest that supplementation of red pepper seed powder may have a pronounced impact on markers of lipid metabolism in serum and liver of rats fed high fatㆍhigh cholesterol diets.