摘要：Physical refining of palm oil by deodorization produces palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) that contains some bioactive compounds such as vitamin E (tocopherol and tocotrienols), phytosterol, and squalene. These bioactive compounds were accumulated in unsaponifiable fraction. This study aimed to use USF as a source of bioactive compounds for lowering cholesterol that tested in vivo by using hypercholesterolaemia rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups that administered by USF of 0, 200, 500, 1000 mg/kg bw/day. As comparison, one group of rats was fed by commercial squalene supplement of 90 mg/kg bw/day. One group of normal rats was used as a control. The results showed that USF of PFAD contained vitamin E 1.96%, phytosterols 0.55%, and squalene 32.30%. Vitamin E of USF comprised of 83% tocotrienols and the remaining is tocopherol. Phytosterols of USF contained 0.42% beta sitosterol and 0.13% campesterol. The result showed that USF doses significantly affected blood serum total cholesterol reduction. Higher dose of USF caused greater reduction of serum blood cholesterol level. The highest decline of blood serum total cholesterol was found at USF dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/day. At dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/day, blood serum cholesterol level reached normal after USF administration for 4 weeks. The blood serum triglyceride level decreased in line with increasing USF doses. The sharp decline of blood serum triglyceride level was found at USF dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/day and at the end of experiment (week 4), the blood serum triglyceride level reached normal. Higher dose of USF resulted on greater decrease of LDL cholesterol level. The highest decline of LDL cholesterol level was found on USF 1000 mg/kg bw/day. Increasing USF dose resulted in increasing blood serum HDL cholesterol level. The higher rise of blood serum HDL cholesterol level was found at USF dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/day. Commercial squalene at dose of 90 mg/kg bw/day was less effective in reducing total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and troglyceride, as well as in rising HDL cholesterol level than USF 200 mg/kg bw/day (equivalent to squalene 64.60 mg/kg bw/day). This finding proved that multi components of bioactive compounds in USF improved blood lipid profile synergistically.
