April 7/Maoming, China/Journal of Technology & Science -- "This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pigments extracted from black glutinous corncob (BGC) on hyperlipidemia in high-fat-fed mice. Our previous studies showed that pigment from BGC (PBGC) is an anthocyanin and can markedly reduce oxidative stress and scavenge free radicals," investigators in China report.

"PBGC was isolated and prepared by extraction in 1% hydrochloric acid ethyl alcohol solution. Mice were divided into five groups of 10 mice each: group I were healthy controls, group II were fed a cholesterol-rich diet only, while groups III to V were fed a cholesterol-rich diet and were fed PBGC by gavage at 200, 500 and 800mg/kg body weight, respectively, for four weeks. The results indicated that PBGC significantly lowered the plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) and markedly increased the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), compared with the hyperlipidemia control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, administration of PBGC significantly decreased the atherogenic index (AI)," wrote Z. Zhang and colleagues.

The researchers concluded, "The present results suggest that PBGC has great potential for preventing hyperlipidemia and cerebrovascular diseases."

Zhang and colleagues published their study in European Food Research and Technology ("Effects of Pigment Extract from Black Glutinous Corncob in a High-fat-fed Mouse Model of Hyperlipidemia." European Food Research and Technology, 2010;230(6):943-946).

For additional information, contact Z. Zhang, Maoming University, Coll Chem & Life Sci, Maoming 525000, People's Republic of China.

From the April 12, 2010, Prepared Foods E-dition