Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of sea cucumber and its main bioactive components on lipid metabolism in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups with six rats per group. Group fed with basal diet served as a control group and other groups were fed the basal diets incorporated with whole sea cucumber, saponin, polysaccharide, polypeptide, dreg and no-saponin residue, respectively. After 28 days＇feeding, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), hepatic lipid concentrations (TG, TC and phospholipids) were measured. The inhibitory effects of saponin and polysaccharide on activities of fatty acid synthase (FAS) were also determined. Sea cucumber significantly reduced the accumulation of perirenal adipose tissue in rats. The TC and TG concentrations in serum and liver were significantly decreased by whole sea cucumber, especially by saponin and polysaccharide. The activities of FAS were suppressed by both saponin and polysaccharide, and saponin showed significantly higher FAS inhibitory effects than that of polysaccharide. In summary, saponin and polysaccharide were the major active components in sea cucumber, and saponin was more efficacious than polysaccharide in lowering lipid in rat.

Key words: sea cucumber, lipid metabolism, antiobese, saponin, polysaccharide