Effect of S-Methylcysteine Sulfoxide, S-Allylcysteine Sulfoxide and Related Sulfur-containing Amino Acids on Lipid Metabolism of Experimental Hypercholesterolemic Rats

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Abstract
S-Methylcysteine sulfoxide (SMCS) and S-allylcysteine sulfoxide (SACS) are distributed abundantly in Lilliacease and Cruciferae plants and may be one of the largest sources of sulfur-containing nonessential amino acids in the Japanese diet. The present paper describes the antihypercholesterolemic effect of these amino acids and other related sulfur-containing amino acids on experimental hypercholesterolemia of rats. Rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet containing 10% hydrogenated coconut oil, 1% cholesterol and 0.2% cholic acid had high cholesterol levels in plasma and liver. Among sulfur-containing amino acids tested, addition of SMCS and SACS to this diet markedly depressed the increase of plasma and liver cholesterol level. Methionine and S-methylcysteine (SMC) showed a smaller hypocholesterolemic effect. On the other hand, cysteine, S-methylcysteine sulfon (SMC sulfon) and S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (SMMSC) had little effect on hypercholesterolemia.