Effects of opium on cholesterol metabolism in rats fed normal and high-fat/high-cholesterol diet

• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102014
• Publication Date: 2025-03-27T18:41:51Z
• Authors: Elaheh Ebrahimi; Iraj Khodadadi; Gholamreza Shafiee; Ebrahim Abbasi

There is a misconception that opium can lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the influences of on expression key metabolism genes in liver intestine rats receiving cholesterol-rich diet. Male Wistar were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): normal control, addiction, hypercholesterolemic diet, addiction received After 28 days, glucose levels, enzymes, rat's serum measured. The regulatory transporters such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R), 7 alpha-hydroxylase 1 (CYP7A1) (in tissue), ATP Binding cassette subfamily g member 5 8 (ABCG5 ABCG8), Niemann-Pick C1-like protein (NPC1L1) intestinal tissue) Intestinal morphological changes also evaluated. Opium decreased total levels (P < 0.05). In contrast, enzymes increased compared control group Histological examinations revealed caused disorganization, deformation, destruction cells tissue. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated LDL genes, HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, CYP7A1 ABCG8 NPC1L1 tissue not significant. had beneficial effects lipid but histological findings indicated destructive tissues.