Peanut-Skin Polyphenols, Procyanidin Al and Epicatechin-(4β→ 6)-epicatechin-(2β→ O→ 7,4β→ 8)-catechin, Exert Cholesterol Micelle-Degrading Activity in Vitro

摘要

We identified epicatechin-(4β→6)-epicatechin-(2β→ O→7,4β→8)-catechin (EEC) in the skin of the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). EEC (a trimer) showed more potent cholesterol micelle-degrading activity than procyanidin Al (a dimer) did in vitro. The hypercholesterolemia suppressing effect of a peanut skin polyphenol on rats fed high-cholesterol diet in our preceding experiments might thus have been due primarily to a micelle degrading effect in the intestine.