Anthocyanin-rich fraction from Thai berries interferes with the key steps of lipid digestion and cholesterol absorption

Several studies have documented the hypolipidemic effect of anthocyanin-rich plants in vitro and in vivo. The objective of this study was to elucidate the inhibitory activity of anthocyanin-rich fraction from Thai berries against fat digestive enzymes. The ability of Thai berries to bind bile acid, disrupt cholesterol micellization and the cholesterol uptake into Caco-2 cells was also determined. The content of total phenolics, flavonoid and anthocyanin in Prunus domestica L. (TPE), Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng, Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, and Syzygium nervosum A. Cunn. Ex DC was 222.7–283.5 mg gallic acid equivalents, 91.2–184.3 mg catechin equivalents, and 37.9–49.5 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents/g extract, respectively. The anthocyanin-rich fraction of all extracts inhibited pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase with the IC50 values of 90.6–181.7 μg/mL and 288.7–455.0 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, all extracts could bind primary and secondary bile acids (16.4–36.6%) and reduce the solubility of cholesterol in artificial micelles (53.0–67.6%). Interestingly, TPE was the most potent extract on interfering the key steps of lipid digestion among the tested extracts. In addition, TPE (0.10–0.50 mg/mL) significantly reduced the cholesterol uptake into Caco-2 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate a new insight into the role of anthocyanin-rich Thai berry extract on interfering the key steps of lipid digestion and absorption.