Effects of Ilex latifolia and Camellia sinensis on Cholesterol and Circulating Immune Complexes in Rats Fed with a High‐Cholesterol Diet

Hypercholesterolaemia is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Here, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Ilex latifolia or green tea ( Camellia sinensis ) on the levels of plasma total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and circulating immune complexes in Sprague Dawley rats fed with a high‐cholesterol diet. We demonstrated that daily administration by gavage of I. latifolia or C. sinensis at doses of 1.0 or 2.0 g/kg body weight for 30 days resulted in a significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol levels and circulating immune complexes and an increase in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in rats fed with a high‐cholesterol diet compared with levels in the high‐cholesterol diet control group. C. sinensis was more effective than I. latifolia . I. latifolia and C. sinensis could be used as food supplements to protect against the development of hypercholesterolaemia. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.