Peanut-Skin Polyphenols, Procyanidin A1 and Epicatechin-(4 β→6)-epicatechin-(2 β→O→7, 4 β→8)-catechin, Exert Cholesterol Micelle-Degrading Activity in Vitro

We identified epicatechin-(4 β→6)-epicatechin-(2 β→O→7, 4 β→8)-catechin (EEC) in the skin of the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). EEC (a trimer) showed more potent cholesterol micelle-degrading activity than procyanidin A1 (a dimer) did in vitro. The hypercholesterolemia suppressing effect of a peanut skin polyphenol on rats fed high-cholesterol diet in our preceding experiments might thus have been due primarily to a micelle degrading effect in the intestine.