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Planta Med 2003; 69(12): 1071-1074
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-45184
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Variable Influence of Kaempferol and Myricetin on in vitro Hepatocellular Cholesterol Biosynthesis

R. Gebhardt1
  • 1Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Publication History

Received: August 25, 2003

Accepted: September 29, 2003

Publication Date:
29 January 2004 (online)

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Abstract

Flavonoids, e. g., quercetin, luteolin, and taxifolin, are known to inhibit hepatocellular cholesterol biosynthesis. Surprisingly, we found that some flavonoids, namely kaempferol and myricetin, are able to considerably stimulate cholesterol biosynthesis, particularly within a low concentration range (between 0.1 and 10 μM), while they show a variable degree of inhibition at higher concentrations. Kaempferol 3-glucoside even stimulated cholesterol synthesis up to 100 μM. In contrast, kaempferol 7-neohesperidoside was ineffective. These effects were more pronounced in rat hepatocytes than in HepG2 cells except for myricetin which acted stimulatory even at high concentrations in HepG2 cells. These opposing effects on cholesterol biosynthesis are exerted in an indirect manner and seem possible though differential modulation of the complex regulation of HMGCoA reductase.

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Rolf Gebhardt

Institute of Biochemistry

Medical Faculty

University of Leipzig

Liebigstr. 16

04103 Leipzig

Germany

Fax: +49-341-972-2109

Email: rgebhardt@medizin.uni-leipzig.de