Ferulic acid attenuates high-fat diet-induced hypercholesterolemia by activating classic bile acid synthesis pathway.

ABSTRACT: Ferulic acid (FA), a natural phenolic phytochemical abundantly present in whole grains, displays promising therapeutic effects on hypercholesterolemia while its underlying mechanism not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the cholesterol-lowering effect of FA in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and its potential molecular mechanism. FA supplementation alleviated HFD-induced hypercholesterolemia (-13.2%, p < 0.05), along with increased excretion of bile acids (BAs) in feces (37.0%, p < 0.05). Mechanism studies showed that FA activated the expression of cholesterol 7α hydroxylase (CYP7A1), a rate-limiting enzyme in BA biosynthesis in the liver, which increased the BAs biosynthesis from cholesterol. Surprisingly, increased excretion of BAs in feces is a consequence, no

SUBMITTER: Luo Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9536491 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature