Self-assembled condensed tannins supramolecular system can adsorb cholesterol micelles to promote cholesterol excretion.

In this study, the cholesterol (CH)-lowering behavioral mechanisms and drivers of condensed tannins (CTs) were revealed using a molecular aggregation theoretical model combined with in vitro experiments, as well as the CH-lowering effects of CTs validated based on animal experiments. Theoretical model results indicated that CTs can spontaneously aggregate to form supramolecular systems, can break CH micelles and form larger aggregates, a behavior driven by van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds; DLS and TEM results confirmed that the presence of CH leads to a larger particle size of CTs and the formation of large aggregates; thermodynamic analysis and ITC revealed that the adsorption of CH by CTs is a spontaneous reaction driven by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces; Animal experiments and fecal biochemical parameters further confirmed that the intake of CTs can reduce CH absorption and promotes CH excretion. Overall, this study reveals the CH-lowering behavioral mechanism of CTs from the perspective of molecular aggregation behavior.