Hypolipidemic and Antioxidative Effects of Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) Juice on High- fat/Cholesterol-Dietary Hamsters

Noni juice (NJ) is rich in phytochemicals and polysaccharides. Lipid-lowering and antioxidative effects of NJ were investigated in this study. Fifty male hamsters were assigned randomly to one of the following groups: (1) normal diet and distilled water (LFCD); (2) high-fat/cholesterol diet and distilled water (HFCD); (3) HFCD and 3?ml NJ (including 0.20?g solids)/kg BW (NJ_L); (4) HFCD and 6?mL NJ (including 0.40?g solids)/kg BW (NJ_M); (5) HFCD and 9?ml NJ (including 0.60?g solids)/kg BW (NJ_H) for six?weeks. NJ supplementation decreased (p?<?0.05) serum triacylglycerol, cholesterol, atherogenic index, malondialdehyde levels, and hepatic lipids in HFCD hamsters, whereas serum trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, glutathione, and fecal lipids in HFCD hamsters were increased (p?<?0.05) by NJ supplementation. Although NJ supplementation downregulated (p?<?0.05) sterol regulator element binding protein-1c in HFCD hamsters, it upregulated (p?<?0.05) hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and uncoupling protein 2 gene expressions in HFCD hamsters. Results demonstrate that NJ promotes cardioprotection in a high-fat/cholesterol diet.