Cafestol is a natural diterpene which is abundant in unfiltered coffee. It elevates serum cholesterol and triglycerides in humans, an effect which does not seem to occur in monkeys, hamsters, rats, or gerbils. Dietary cafestol does increase total cholesterol and triglycerides in ApoE3Leiden mice, an effect which is associated with selective activation of farnesoid X receptors and pregnane X receptors. Cafestol (20 μM) also inhibits the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells and prevents their migration and tube formation on Matrigel?.
