Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2 11 2014 10 14 Mung Bean Protein Increases Plasma Cholesterol by up-regulation of Hepatic HMG-CoA Reductase, and CYP7A1 in mRNA Levels 770 775 EN Yang Yao Yingying Zhu Guixing Ren Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 80 South Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China JFNR20142112 10.12691/jfnr-2-11-2 2014 09 04 2014 09 22 2014 10 14 Interest in mung bean as a cholesterol-lowering functional food is growing. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mung bean protein on the blood cholesterol level and gene expression of cholesterol-regulating enzymes in Golden Syrian hamsters maintained on a 0.1% cholesterol diet. Results showed that mung bean protein (MBP) reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL) concentrations as well as hepatic cholesterol concentrations after 6 week treatment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated mung bean protein could up-regulate the production of mRNA3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) levels. The mechanisms underlying the cholesterol-lowering activity of MBP were mediated most likely by increasing the sterol excretion and decreasing the cholesterol absorption and synthesis. It is concluded that mung bean protein possesses the decreases plasma cholesterol activity and can be further explored as a functional food.