Profiling of urinary bile acids in piglets by a combination of enzymatic deconjugation and targeted LC-MRM-MS.

We present a method using a combination of enzymatic deconjugation and targeted LC-multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-MS analysis for analyzing all common bile acids (BAs) in piglet urine, and in particular, for detecting conjugated BAs either in the absence of their standards, or when present in low concentrations. Initially, before enzymatic deconjugation, 19 unconjugated BAs (FBAs) were detected where the total concentration of the detected FBAs was 9.90 µmol/l. Sixty-seven conjugated BAs were identified by LC-MRM-MS analysis before and after enzymatic deconjugation. Four enzymatic assays were used to deconjugate the BA conjugates. FBAs in urine after cholylglycine hydrolase/sulfatase treatment were 33.40 µmol/l, indicating the urinary BAs were comprised of 29.75% FBAs and 70.25% conjugated BAs in single and multiple conjugated forms. For the conjugates in single form, released FBAs from cholylglycine hydrolase deconjugation indicated that the conjugates with amino acids were 14.54% of urinary BAs, 16.27% glycosidic conjugates were found by ß-glucuronidase treatment, and sulfatase with glucuronidase inhibitor treatment liberated FBAs that constituted 16.67% of urinary BAs. Notably, chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) was initially detected only in trace amounts in urine, but was found at significant levels after the enzymatic assays above. These results support that CDCA is a precursor of γ-muricholic acid in BA biosynthesis in piglets.

Diets Containing Shiitake Mushroom Reduce Serum Lipids and Serum Lipophilic Antioxidant Capacity in Rats.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported that dietary intake of shiitake mushroom (SM; Lentinus edodes) decreased serum concentrations of polar lipids in male rats. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the dietary effects of SM on serum cholesterol-related and serum antioxidant indexes in rats of both sexes. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats [38 dams and their offspring (20 males and 20 females/diet)] were fed diets containing 0 (control), 1%, 4%, or 10% (wt:wt) SM powder from gestation day 4 through to postnatal day (PND) 126. Biochemical indexes were monitored during the midgrowth phase (PNDs 50-66). RESULTS: The food consumption by offspring fed the control diet and diets supplemented with SM was not different when measured on PND 65. However, the 4% and 10% SM diets resulted in male rats with 7% lower body weights than those of the other 2 groups on PND 66. SM consumption dose-dependently decreased the concentrations of lipidemia-related factors in sera, irrespective of sex. At PND 50, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol in SM-fed male and female rats were generally lower (3-27%) than those in the corresponding control groups. Consumption of the 10% SM diet resulted in significantly decreased (55%) serum triglyceride concentrations relative to the control groups for both sexes. The 10% SM diet elicited a 62% reduction of serum leptin concentrations in females but not in males, and this same diet increased serum insulin (137%) and decreased serum glucose (15%) in males compared with controls. Serum lipophilic antioxidant capacity in males and females fed SM diets was generally lower (31-86%) than that in the control groups. CONCLUSION: SM decreased the concentrations of lipidemia-related factors in rat sera irrespective of sex. The SM-elicited reduction of lipophilic antioxidant capacity irrespective of sex may reflect a lower pro-oxidative state and, hence, improved metabolic profile.

Moutan cortex extract exerts protective effects in a rat model of cardiac ischemia/reperfusion.

Moutan cortex (MC) is a traditional Chinese medicine with diverse biological effects. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of MC on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats and to explore its possible mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were administered MC extract (1.98 g/kg, i.g.) for 14 days and underwent a subsequent open-chest procedure involving 30 min of myocardial ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion. The cardioprotective effect of MC was demonstrated by reduced infarct size and marked improvement in the histopathological examination. The increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) as well as the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) indicated that MC effectively promoted the anti-oxidative defense system. Increased anti-oxidative defense was accompanied by decreased release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). The reduction in TUNEL-positive myocytes demonstrated that MC decreased myocardial apoptosis. The mRNA expression of B cell leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) was upregulated by MC and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) mRNA expression was increased. MC pretreatment decreased the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The data from this study suggest that MC exerted protective effects on acute myocardial I/R injury via anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic activities.

Antidiabetic Effect of an Active Components Group from Ilex kudingcha and Its Chemical Composition.

The leaves of Ilex kudingcha are used as an ethnomedicine in the treatment of symptoms related with diabetes mellitus and obesity throughout the centuries in China. The present study investigated the antidiabetic activities of an active components group (ACG) obtained from Ilex kudingcha in alloxan-induced type 2 diabetic mice. ACG significantly reduced the elevated levels of serum glycaemic and lipids in type 2 diabetic mice. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase and glucokinase were upregulated significantly, while fatty acid synthetase, glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic enzyme was downregulated in diabetic mice after treatment of ACG. These findings clearly provided evidences regarding the antidiabetic potentials of ACG from Ilex kudingcha. Using LC-DAD/HR-ESI-TOF-MS, six major components were identified in ACG. They are three dicaffeoylquinic acids that have been reported previously, and three new triterpenoid saponins, which were the first time to be identified in Ilex kudingcha. It is reasonable to assume that antidiabetic activity of Ilex kudingcha against hyperglycemia resulted from these six major components. Also, synergistic effects among their compounds may exist in the antidiabetic activity of Ilex kudingcha.

Quantitative analysis of polar lipids in the nanoliter level of rat serum by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.

Polar lipids in serum, including lysophospholipids (LPLs) and free fatty acids (FFAs), have a broad range of biological activities and require a suitable method for their quantitative analysis. Conventional methods use multistep procedures to simultaneously purify and analyze polar lipids and non-polar lipids in serum. However, the methods could result in inaccurate quantifications of polar and/or non-polar lipids because compounds with different polarities have different behaviors in solvent extraction and mass spectrometric ionization. In this study, a method was designed to analyze polar lipids in serum based on the polarities of LPLs and FFAs. The method consisted of extraction without filtration and analysis of the crude extract without multistep purification. Fifty LPLs and 32 FFAs were detected in rat serum. The concentrations of LPLs (1272.1 micromole/L in female and 999.8 micromole/L in male) and FFAs (1910.9 micromole/L in female and 1651.4 micromole/L in male) were determined. Peak areas of MS ion in Extract Ion Chromatogram (EIC) were used for the quantification in this study. The approach of quantification should be perfectly suitable for precise quantification of a specific serum component by adding its isotope standard to the serum before extraction.

Triterpenoid saponins from Anemone flaccida induce apoptosis activity in HeLa cells.

Five triterpenoid saponins were isolated from Anemone flaccida Fr. Schmidt. Their structures were identified as glycoside St-I4a (1), glycoside St-J (2), anhuienoside E (3), hederasaponin B (4), and flaccidoside II (5). Compounds 1-2 were isolated from Anemone family for the first time, and compounds 3-4 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The inhibitory effects of saponins on proliferation of HeLa cells were studied by MTT assay, the apoptosis-induction activity was observed by cell-cycle analysis and caspase-3 expression assay. The antitumor activities of the saponins were ranked in the following order: 5 > 3 > 4 > 1 > 2. The data presented here indicated that naturally occurring triterpenoid saponins can be regarded as excellent structures for the potential development of new anticancer agents.

Quantification of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components in rice germ and bran.

Rice bran is a rich natural source of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol, which have been extensively studied and reported to possess important health-promoting properties. However, commercial rice bran is a mixture of rice bran and germ, and profiles of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components in these two different materials are less well-studied. In the current study, vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components in rice bran and germ were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. The components were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with both positive- and negative-ion modes. Both deprotonated molecular ion [M - H](-) and protonated molecular ion [M + H](+) found as the base peaks in spectra of vitamin E components made ESI-MS a valuable analytic method in detecting vitamin E compounds, especially when they were at very low levels in samples. Ultraviolet absorption was used for quantification of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components. While the level of vitamin E in rice germ was 5 times greater than in rice bran, the level of gamma-oryzanol in rice germ was 5 times lower than in rice bran. Also, the major vitamin E component was alpha-tocopherol in rice germ and gamma-tocotrienol in rice bran. These data suggest that rice bran and germ have significantly different profiles of vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components. The method enables rapid and direct on-line identification and quantification of the vitamin E and gamma-oryzanol components in rice bran and germ.

In vitro actions on human cancer cells and the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry fingerprint of phytochemicals in rice protein isolate.

Rice protein isolate (RPI) has been reported to reduce the incidence of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary tumors in rats. To determine the potential role of phytochemicals associated with the RPI, we studied in vitro antitumor activities of an ether fraction from RPI using human tumor cell lines, including two human breast carcinoma cell lines (MDA-MB-453 and MCF-7) and two myeloma cell lines (RPMI-8226 and IM-9). Concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects of the ether fraction were observed in all cell lines using the standard 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Fraction-induced apoptosis (P < 0.05) was detected in all cell lines, and this was associated with the induction of proapoptotic bax protein and cdk inhibitors (p21) and the suppression of cdk4 and cyclin D1 activity. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with both positive and negative modes was used to analyze the phytochemicals in the ether fraction from RPI. Fifty-seven phytochemicals were identified or characterized by their diagnostic fragmentation patterns and direct comparison with the authentic standards on the basis of electrospray ionization-MS/MS data. The major components bound to RPI were lysoglycerophospholipids, fatty acids, and fatty acid 3-[2-(2,3-dihydroxy-propoxycarbonyl)-2-hydroxy-ethoxy]-2-hydroxy-propyl esters.

Inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in human cancer cell lines by an ethyl acetate fraction from shiitake mushrooms.

OBJECTIVE: Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) mushrooms have been reported to have cancer-preventing properties. However, little research has been conducted verifying the antitumor activities of "mycochemicals" in shiitake mushrooms. In this study, potential roles of an ethyl acetate fraction from shiitake mushrooms were investigated by in vitro bioassays. DESIGN: The activities of an ethyl acetate fraction were evaluated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT), apoptosis bioassay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blot analysis using two human breast carcinoma cell lines (MDA-MB-453 and MCF-7), one human nonmalignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10F), and two myeloma cell lines (RPMI-8226 and IM-9). RESULTS: Concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects of the fraction were observed in all cell lines using the MTT assay. Approximately 50 mg/L concentration of the fraction induced apoptosis in 50% of the population of four human tumor cell lines and the fraction-induced apoptosis may have been mediated through the pro-apoptotic bax protein which was up-regulated. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the fraction induced cell cycle arrest by significant decrease of S phase, which was associated with the induction of cdk inhibitors p21 and the suppression of cdk4 and cyclin D1 activity. Compared to malignant tumor cells, nonmalignant cells were less sensitive to the fraction for the suppression of cell growth and regulation of bax, p21, cyclin D1, and cdk4 expression. A 51% antiproliferative effect occurred at the highest concentration of the fraction (800 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that inhibition of growth in tumor cells by "mycochemicals" in shiitake mushrooms may result from induction of apoptosis.

Matrix effects break the LC behavior rule for analytes in LC-MS/MS analysis of biological samples.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are generally accepted as the preferred techniques for detecting and quantitating analytes of interest in biological matrices on the basis of the rule that one chemical compound yields one LC-peak with reliable retention time (Rt.). However, in the current study, we have found that under the same LC-MS conditions, the Rt. and shape of LC-peaks of bile acids in urine samples from animals fed dissimilar diets differed significantly among each other. To verify this matrix effect, 17 authentic bile acid standards were dissolved in pure methanol or in methanol containing extracts of urine from pigs consuming either breast milk or infant formula and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The matrix components in urine from piglets fed formula significantly reduced the LC-peak Rt. and areas of bile acids. This is the first characterization of this matrix effect on Rt. in the literature. Moreover, the matrix effect resulted in an unexpected LC behavior: one single compound yielded two LC-peaks, which broke the rule of one LC-peak for one compound. The three bile acid standards which exhibited this unconventional LC behavior were chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and glycocholic acid. One possible explanation for this effect is that some matrix components may have loosely bonded to analytes, which changed the time analytes were retained on a chromatography column and interfered with the ionization of analytes in the MS ion source to alter the peak area. This study indicates that a comprehensive understanding of matrix effects is needed towards improving the use of HPLC and LC-MS/MS techniques for qualitative and quantitative analyses of analytes in pharmacokinetics, proteomics/metabolomics, drug development, and sports drug testing, especially when LC-MS/MS data are analyzed by automation software where identification of an analyte is based on its exact molecular weight and Rt.

Characterization of triterpene alcohol and sterol ferulates in rice bran using LC-MS/MS.

Ferulic acid esters of triterpene alcohols and sterols in rice bran oil have been extensively studied and reported to possess important pharmacological actions. Inconsistent results on the numbers and structures of ferulates have been reported, primarily because of the analytical procedures employed. Conventional methods for analysis of phytosterol content in oil are carried out by characterization of trimethylsilylated derivatives (TMS) using GC-EI-MS after saponification of oils or individual compound isolated from oils. This study developed an LC-MS/MS method for the direct analysis of triterpene alcohol and sterol esters in rice bran oil. In addition to verifying the results of previous research, nine new relatively polar triterpene alcohol and sterol esters were characterized by their retention behaviors in LC and ESI-MS data from both negative- and positive-ion mode. This is the first evidence for the presence of hydroxylated ferulate esters and caffeate esters as part of gamma-oryzanol in rice bran. The method enables rapid and direct on-line characterization of triterpene alcohol and sterol esters in oils. LC-MS/MS equipped with reverse-phase LC and ESI-MS should be well-suited for identification and quantification of the polar metabolites of phytosterols in biological fluids after consumption of rice bran oil or other oils.

LC-MS/MS analysis of lysophospholipids associated with soy protein isolate.

Approximately 20-25% of babies consuming formula are fed formulas containing soy protein as the sole protein source. Isoflavone phytoestrogens are considered as major bioactive components present in soy protein isolate (SPI) and the most widely studied phytochemicals in human diets and soy infant formulas. In the present study, LC-MS/MS analysis of SPI phytochemical extract resulted in identifications of fifty-six lysophospholipids (lyso-PL), including eighteen lysophosphatidylcholines (lyso-PC), twelve lysophosphatidylethanolamines (lyso-PE), eleven lysophosphatidylinositols (lyso-PI), eleven lysophosphatidic acids (lyso-PA) and four lysophosphatidylglycerols (lyso-PG). The LC-MS/MS conditions were first developed using commercially available standard mixtures. Under these conditions, lyso-PL compounds could be separated by LC and yielded unique fragments and neutral losses in the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with both positive- and negative-ion modes, quite indicative of the polar headgroups for different subclasses. This is the first characterization of lyso-PL in SPI. Lyso-PLs are important cell signaling and growth factor molecules experimentally linked to cardiovascular function and disease, cancer, and neurological disorders. These findings suggest that biological effects of PLs associated with SPI in infants clearly needs to be considered as part of an overall evaluation of potential health benefits.

Comprehensive phytochemical profile of soy protein isolate.

Although an FDA health claim for soy protein has been issued, the potential health benefits of soy foods remain controversial among scientists, especially with regard to soy infant formula. The UV detectable isoflavones have been the focus of the majority of studies concerning health-related effects of soy protein isolate (SPI). However, the chemical identities and health effects of other SPI phytochemicals without UV absorption properties are less well-studied. In the current study, we employed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods to reveal a complicated phytochemical profile for SPI consisting of 136 phytochemicals. Also, we have quantitated many of these SPI phytochemicals so that dietary intakes can be estimated for foods containing SPI. On a weight/weight basis, fatty acids are the largest group of phytochemicals in the extract (64.13% total fat), followed by saponins (21.48%), and then isoflavones at 6.82%. Of the 56 lysophospholipids identified in SPI, 0.50% was lysophosphatidylcholines and 0.23% was lysophosphatidylethanolamines.

Characterization of isoflavones and their conjugates in female rat urine using LC/MS/MS.

Isoflavone phytoestrogens found in soybeans are the most widely studied phytochemicals in human diets and soy infant formulas. The health benefits of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein have been reported, and concerns about potential adverse effects have also been raised. However, the results of direct analysis of isoflavones and their metabolites in biological fluids after consumption of soy-containing diets are scarce. This study describes an LC/MS/MS method for the analysis of isoflavones and their metabolites in the urine of female rats fed diets made with soy protein isolate. Five isoflavones (daidzein, genistein, glycitein, dihydrodaidzein, and O-desmethylangolensin) were identified by comparison with authentic standards. Seventeen conjugates of isoflavones were characterized in the urine, the most unusual being genistein 5-glucuronide and four glucuronide conjugates of reductive metabolites of daidzein. The application of LC/MS/MS to analyze isoflavone metabolites is simple and sensitive, and appears to be an excellent method for determining the bioavailability and metabolism of food phytochemistry.

LC/MS/MS characterization of phenolic constituents in dried plums.

Dried plums are known as a healthy food in the West and used as medicine in India. They have been characterized by high concentrations of phenolic compounds, which are believed to play a crucial role in protection against various age-related diseases. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) with four different conditions was used to analyze the phytochemicals in commercial dried plums. The major components were neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid. Forty minor components were characterized by their MS/MS spectra and LC retention time. Six of them are novel ester isomers formed by two caffeic acids and one quinic acid. The diagnostic fragmentation patterns of different phenolics are presented on the basis of electrospray ionization (ESI) MS/MS data of components in dried plums and fourteen authentic standards.

The rationality of the hypolipidemic effect of alismatis rhizoma decoction, a classical chinese medicine formula in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice.

Alismatis Rhizoma Decoction (ARD) is a classical Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula for treatment of vertigo with its long history of successful clinical effect. Since vertigo is a symptom of hyperlipidemia, this study aimed at evaluating the hypolipidemic effect of ARD in hyperlipidemic mice induced by high fat diet (HFD) and investigated the rationality of formula combination of Alismatis Rhizoma (AR) and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma (AMR). Compared with control group, hyperlipidemic mice in AR and ARD groups displayed a reduction of the following parameters: body weight, liver and serum total cholesterol, triglyceride concentration, liver and spleen coefficients, activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT); whereas the serum HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly elevated in both AR and ARD groups. AR and ARD treatments significantly down regulated the expressions of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutharyl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) and sterol regulatory element binding factor-2 (SREBF-2). These findings clearly provided evidences that the suppression on biosynthesis of cholesterol in liver may in part contribute to the hypolipidemic effects of ARD and AR. Since no significantly hypolipidemic effect of AMR was observed, the more prominent effect of ARD than that of AR indicated synergistic effects of AR and AMR, and confirmed the rationality of ARD formula.

Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Potentilla discolor decoction on obese-diabetic (Ob-db) mice and its chemical composition.

Potentilla discolor is used as an ethnomedicine in treatments of diabetes mellitus in China for years. In the present study, the anti-hyperglycemic effects of a clinical active extract (decoction) from P. discolor were investigated in Ob-db mice. Four week's treatment of P. discolor decoction ameliorated the development of hyperlipidemia, lipid peroxidation and hyperglycemia associated with hyperphagia and polydypsia in Ob-db mice. P. discolor significantly attenuated the increase of blood glucose and cholesterol levels in Ob-db mice. These findings clearly provided evidences regarding the anti-hyperglycemic potentials of P. discolor decoction. High-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (HR-LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze the phytochemicals in P. discolor decoction. In an comprehensive analysis of phytochemicals in P. discolor, thirty-five components were identified or characterized in P. discolor decoction and only sixteen of them have been reported in P. discolor previously. There are five major components identified in P. discolor decoction. One of the major components is a flavonoid sulfate, and this is the first evidence for the presences of sulfated flavonoid in P. discolor. Sulfated flavonoids have been reported to improve the complications of diabetes mellitus by inhibition of the aldose reductase in both experimental animals and clinical trials. Therefore, the sulfated flavonoid in P. discolor decoction may in part contribute to the anti-hyperglycemic effect of P. discolor.

Hypolipidemic effects of Alismatis rhizome on lipid profile in mice fed high-fat diet.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Alismatis rhizome (AR) extract on lipid profile in mice fed high-fat diet. METHODS: The study was performed in Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Resource and Compound Prescription (Hubei University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China, between December 2009 and June 2010. Forty male Kunming mice (8-week-old) were randomly divided into 4 groups and were treated for 4 weeks: Group 1: normal control, Group 2: high-fat control, Group 3: positive control and Group 4: AR 2.26 g/kg. The hypolipidemic effects of AR were evaluated by serum lipids, liver lipids, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum aminotransferases and histopathological changes were also measured. RESULTS: Alismatis rhizome treatment resulted in an obvious decrease in serum and liver cholesterol, triglyceride along with elevated serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipidemic mice. The histopathological results showed that adipose vacuoles in AR treated mice liver were almost identical to those of normal control mice. Serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and the relative liver weight in AR treated mice were decreased significantly. Alismatis rhizome substantially decreased the mRNA expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr), while the expressions of sterol regulatory element binding factor 2 (Srebf2) and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) were marginally affected. CONCLUSION: These results confirmed the efficacy of AR in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Alismatis rhizome may act by decreasing the liver synthesis of cholesterol, rather than by increasing the cholesterol catabolism.

Analysis of polar lipids in the serum from rats fed shiitake by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.

Consumption of a shiitake mushroom diet has been reported to have effects on serum phospholipids. However, much less is known about the effect on serum polar lipids including lysophospholipids and free fatty acids. In the present study, the effects of a shiitake diet were evaluated on the basis of identification and quantification of individual polar lipid components in rat serum using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. By comparison with standards and published data, 50 lysophospholipids and 32 free fatty acids were identified, and the concentrations of 27 polar lipids in rat serum were determined. Shiitake diets decreased the levels of all individual polar lipid components in the serum of male rat. The total level of serum polar lipids in males fed 4% shiitake diets (1365.71 mol/L) was significantly lower than that of the control (2270.26 mol/L). However, shiitake diets did not significantly affect the levels of serum polar lipids in female rats.

Cytotoxic hydroxylated triterpene alcohol ferulates from rice bran.

Three hydroxylated triterpene alcohol ferulates, (24S)-cycloart-25-ene-3 beta,24-diol-3 beta-trans-ferulate (1), (24R)-cycloart-25-ene-3 beta,24-diol-3 beta-trans-ferulate (2), and cycloart-23Z-ene-3 beta,25-diol-3 beta-trans-ferulate (3), along with known compounds cycloartenol trans-ferulate (4) and 24-methylenecycloartanol trans-ferulate (5) were isolated from rice bran. Their structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 2-5 showed moderate cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells.