Effects of Protocatechuic Acid Derived from Rubus coreanus on the Lipid Metabolism in High Cholesterol Diet-induced Mice

Rubus coreanus has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia because of its various pharmacological properties. This study examined the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA), one of phenolic compounds derived from R. coreanus on the lipid metabolism in high cholesterol diet-induced mice. A total of 30 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups with 6 mice in each group as follows: (1) Control mice received normal diet (ND). (2) Mice received high-cholesterol diet (HCD) plus water, 10% sucrose solution and treated daily oral phosphate-buffered-saline (PBS) of equal volumes through gavage. (3) Mice received HCD and treated daily with 25 ㎎/㎏ b.w./day of PCA (4) with 50 ㎎/㎏ b.w./day or (5) with 10 ㎎/㎏ b.w./day of simvastatin via oral gavage for 12 weeks. Body weights were measured weekly for a period of experiment. After treatment, liver, thymus, spleen and kidney were harvested and weighed, and the lipid metabolite profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and liver-damaging markers (GOT and GPT) in serum were examined. PCA significantly reduced the total cholesterol, TG, LDL-c level and increased the HDL-c level. PCA administration also significantly reduced the levels of GOT and GPT. These results indicate that the PCA could be used as a functional material for lowering lipid and an adjuvant for the treatment of hyperlipemia.

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