Cholesterol-lowering Activity Research Articles

Comprehensive Analysis of Curcumin Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles, Synthesis, Characterization, and Cytogenotoxic Profiling.

Curcumin from turmeric (Curcuma longa) has traditionally been used due to its pharmacological properties, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, and antioxidant activities, but has had limitations in use due to low bioavailability. Nanoparticles have protuberant efficacies to diagnose or cure a variety of diseases, including tumors, by fine-tuning their size, structure, and physicochemical characteristics. This study aims to develop a new dosage form of curcumin nanoparticles with zinc oxide to enhance its therapeutic efficacy against cancer and cause no damage to genetics. Curcumin zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by using a Zeta sizer, ultraviolet (UV)-spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Different concentrations range from 40 to 0.078 μg/mL, and these nanoparticles were evaluated for their anticancer activity by colorimetric analysis (MTT assay) on normal (Vero) and cancerous cell lines (MCF-7) and genotoxicity by the comet assay. The spherical-shaped curcumin zinc oxide nanoparticles of 189 nm size were prepared with characteristic functional groups. The selectivity index of curcumin zinc oxide nanoparticles, calculated from IC50 values, is 4.60 > 2.0, showing anticancer potential comparable to tamoxifen. The genetic damage index of the highest concentration (40 μg/mL) of curcumin zinc oxide nanoparticles was 0.08, with a percent fragmentation of 8%. The results suggest that nanoparticles of curcumin zinc oxide produced better anticancer effects and did not cause any significant damage to the DNA. Consequently, further research is required to ensure the development of a safe and quality dosage form of nanoparticles for proper utilization.

Impact of drying methods on ergosterol content and cholesterol-lowering activity of Ganodermalucidum

The development of the food industry is an integral part of the development of our world. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in food as drugs. Basidiomycetes grown in submerged culture have the potential to be used as food supplements for a healthy diet. This study investigated the ergosterol content of Ganoderma lucidum obtained in submerged culture and dried using different techniques to identify the prospects for food additive applications. Specifically, the ergosterol content was higher in samples dried by freezing or oven-dried at low temperatures than in air or oven-dried at high temperatures. In addition, the study performed chemoinformatic calculations to determine the binding energy of ergosterol and cholesterol to the NPC1 receptor, which is a cholesterol transporter in humans. The results showed that ergosterol had a better binding energy (−9.2 kcal/mol) than cholesterol (−8.4 kcal/mol). This suggests that basidiomycete may have potential as a food additive or drug due to its ability to bind more efficiently to the NPC1 receptor. This research emphasizes the importance of developing technology to produce food additives from natural components, considering their biological value. Therefore, the research indicates that Ganoderma lucidum may be a dietary supplement to lower human cholesterol levels.

Antihypertensive effect of chicken blood peptide hydrolysate in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Chicken blood peptide hydrolysate (CBH) has been reported to exert antioxidant, angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory, and cholesterol-lowering activities. Antihypertensive effect of the CBPH was also demonstrated in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This study aimed to assess the anti-diabetic and antihypertensive effect of the CBH in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. CBH was prepared from fresh chicken blood collected from an industrial slaughterhouse in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 main groups: normal and STZ-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) groups. Five subgroups of each main group were given distilled water, metformin (200 mg/kg), and CBH (300, 600, 1200 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 28 days (n=10 per each group). Fasting blood sugar level and OGTT were evaluated before and at the end of experiment. Each rat underwent monitoring of blood pressure using femoral artery. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed higher fasting blood glucose concentration and area under curve from OGTT than normal rats, which was not reduced by all treatments. STZ-induced diabetic rats showed higher mean arterial blood pressure than normal rats, which was significantly reduced by metformin and CBH (300 and 1200 mg/kg) (p<0.05). The blood pressure-lowering effect of CBH suggested the potential for the application of CBH in the management of diabetic hypertension. However, attention must be paid to concerns about bird flu in certain places and prohibition of the use of blood product. This work was supported by Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI), and National Science Research and Innovation Fund (NSRF) (FF1-111-65-12-30(08)). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Structural characterization of strawberry pomace

Strawberries are a nutrient dense food rich in vitamins, minerals, non-nutrient antioxidant phenolics, and fibers. Strawberry fiber bioactive structures are not well characterized and limited information is available about the interaction between strawberry fiber and phenolics. Therefore, we analyzed commercial strawberry pomace in order to provide a detailed carbohydrate structural characterization, and to associate structures with functions. The pomace fraction, which remained after strawberry commercial juice extraction, contained mostly insoluble (49.1 % vs. 5.6 % soluble dietary fiber) dietary fiber, with pectin, xyloglucan, xylan, β-glucan and glucomannan polysaccharides; glucose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, fucose and galacturonic acid free carbohydrates; protein (15.6 %), fat (8.34 %), and pelargonidin 3-glucoside (562 μg/g). Oligosaccharides from fucogalacto-xyloglucan, methyl-esterified rhamnogalacturonan I with branched arabinogalacto-side chains, rhamnogalacturonan II, homogalacturonan and β-glucan were detected by MALDI-TOF MS, NMR and glycosyl-linkage analysis. Previous reports suggest that these oligosaccharide and polysaccharide structures have prebiotic, bacterial pathogen anti-adhesion, and cholesterol-lowering activity, while anthocyanins are well-known antioxidants. A strawberry pomace microwave acid-extracted (10 min, 80 °C) fraction had high molar mass (2376 kDa) and viscosity (3.75 dL/g), with an extended rod shape. A random coil shape, that was reported previously to bind to phenolic compounds, was observed for other strawberry microwave-extracted fractions. These strawberry fiber structural details suggest that they can thicken foods, while the polysaccharide and polyphenol interaction indicates great potential as a multiple-function bioactive food ingredient important for gut and metabolic health.

Exploring Phytochemical Mechanisms in the Prevention of Cholesterol Dysregulation: A Review.

Although cholesterol plays a key role in many physiological processes, its dysregulation can lead to several metabolic diseases. Statins are a group of drugs widely used to lower cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk but may lead to several side effects in some patients. Therefore, the development of a plant-based therapeutic adjuvant with cholesterol-lowering activity is desirable. The maintenance of cholesterol homeostasis encompasses multiple steps, including biosynthesis and metabolism, uptake and transport, and bile acid metabolism; issues arising in any of these processes could contribute to the etiology of cholesterol-related diseases. An increasing body of evidence strongly indicates the benefits of phytochemicals for cholesterol regulation; traditional Chinese medicines prove beneficial in some disease models, although more scientific investigations are needed to confirm their effectiveness. One of the main functions of cholesterol is bile acid biosynthesis, where most bile acids are recycled back to the liver. The composition of bile acid is partly modulated by gut microbes and could be harmful to the liver. In this regard, the reshaping effect of phytochemicals on gut microbiota has been widely reported in the literature for its significance. Therefore, we reviewed studies conducted over the past 5 years elucidating the regulatory effects of phytochemicals or herbal medicines on cholesterol metabolism. In addition, their effects on the recomposition of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism due to modulation are discussed. This review aims to provide novel insights into the treatment of cholesterol dysregulation and the anticipated development of natural-based compounds in the near and far future.

Carbohydrazide-Based schiff bases for selective Hg (II) ion sensing and computational analysis of cholesterol lowering activity

The presence of mercury ion (Hg (II)) in the environment is a serious health concern. Therefore, it is essential to measure and monitor the levels of Hg (II) in the environment to safeguard public health. This study focuses on the synthesis of carbohydrazide-based Schiff bases (4–5) and exhibit a red-shift in absorption upon addition of Hg (II) ion, making them highly selective and sensitive in detecting Hg (II). The confirmation of the synthesized compounds was achieved using (1H and 13C) NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Additionally, the detection limits towards Hg (II) were determined to be 7.56 × 10-7 M and 1.42 × 10-6 M for compounds 4 and 5, respectively. The 1H NMR spectra provided evidence of interactions between compounds 4–5 and Hg (II) ion. The compounds 4 and 5 were evaluated for Bioactivity, Drug likeness parameters and Prediction of Activity Spectra (PASS) analysis to design a new molecule with a favorable pharmacological profile. Based on the PASS results, molecular docking studies of compounds 4 and 5 were performed with Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) (PDB ID: 2OBD), revealing inhibitory activity. These findings suggest the potential of these compounds as candidates for antihyperlipidemic or cholesterol-lowering agents.

Hexagonal plate ultrasound pretreatment on the correlation between soy protein isolate structure and cholesterol-lowering activity of peptides, and protein's enzymolysis kinetics, thermodynamics

In this study, a hexagonal plate ultrasound (HPU) pretreatment technology was employed to modify soy protein isolate (SPI) and enhance the hypocholesterolemic activity of enzymatic digests from SPI. Results demonstrated that under the condition of ultrasound power density of 40 W/L, the hypocholesterolemic activity of enzymatic digests from HPU-pretreated SPI (HPU-SPI) increased by 88.40 % compared to control group after gastrointestinal digestion. The sulfhydryl content of HPU-SPI increased by a maximum of 45.32 % compared to control group. Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy revealed that HPU pretreatment partially unfolded the SPI conformation, reduced the intermolecular interactions, and exposed the internal hydrophobic regions. Pearson correlation analysis showed that sulfhydryl groups (r = 0.860), disulfide bonds (r = −0.875) and random coil (r = 0.917) were strongly correlated with the cholesterol-lowering activity of soy protein hydrolysate (SPH), following a simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Finally, the effects of HPU pretreatment on enzymolysis kinetics and thermodynamics of the SPI enzymatic process showed that HPU pretreatment significantly reduced the Mie's constant, activation energy, activation enthalpy, activation entropy and Gibbs free energy. Overall, the study outcome suggested that HPU pretreatment could positively influence the hypocholesterolemic peptide activity, and thus, may be beneficial to the pharmaceutical/food industry.

Effects of different stress conditions on the production, bioactivities, physicochemical and structural characteristics of exopolysaccharides synthetized by Schleiferilactobacillus harbinensis Z171

This study systematically investigated the effects of stress conditions including temperature, pH, H2O2, NaCl, antibiotics on the production and in vitro cholesterol-lowering activity of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) synthetized by Schleiferilactobacillus harbinensis Z171. Additionally, the influences of the optimal stress condition combined with different carbon sources on EPS production were examined, shedding light on the structural characteristics, physicochemical properties and bioactivities of EPSs. The results demonstrated that the EPS produced under H2O2 stress was optimal and presented excellent resistance to simulated gastric juice and α-amylase. Three main fractions, denoted as G-EPS1, F-EPS1 and S-EPS1, were isolated by cellulose DEAE-52 chromatography from crude EPSs synthetized using glucose, fructose and sucrose as carbon sources, respectively. Among them, F-EPS1 possessed the highest cholesterol-lowering, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities, with the highest molecular weight 91.03 kDa, largest particle size 40.14 nm and apparent viscosity 288.2 mPa·s. Three EPSs exhibited irregular sheet-like and granular structures with good thermal stability. Structural characterization of F-EPS1a (a purified fraction from F-EPS1) revealed that it was a mannan mainly composed of →2)-α-D-Manp-(1→, →3)-α-Manp-(1→ and →2,6)-α-D-Manp-(1→ with branch chains containing α-D-Manp-(1→. F-EPS1a has more potential to be a natural cholesterol-lowering, hypoglycemic and antioxidant supplements in the food industry.

Preventive mechanisms of Chinese Tibetan medicine Triphala against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BackgroundTriphala (TLP), as a Chinese Tibetan medicine composing of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellirica (1.2:1.5:1), exhibited hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and gut microbiota modulatory effects. Nonetheless, its roles in prevention of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the related mechanistic insights involving the interplay of gut microbiota and hepatic inflammation are not known. PurposeThe present study seeks to determine if TLP would prevent HFD-induced NAFLD in vivo and its underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of gut microbiota, metabolites, and hepatic inflammation. MethodsTLP was subjected to extraction and chemo-profiling, and in vivo evaluation in HFD-fed rats on hepatic lipid and inflammation, intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and permeability, and body weight and fat content profiles. ResultsThe TLP was primarily constituted of gallic acid, corilagin and chebulagic acid. Orally administered HFD-fed rats with TLP were characterized by the growth of Ligilactobacillus and Akkermansia, and SCFAs (acetic/propionic/butyric acid) secretion which led to increased claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 expression that reduced the mucosal permeability to migration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into blood and liver. Coupling with hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride lowering actions, the TLP mitigated both inflammatory (ALT, AST, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and pro-inflammatory (TLR4, MYD88 and NF-κB P65) activities of liver, and sequel to histopathological development of NAFLD in a dose-dependent fashion. ConclusionTLP is promisingly an effective therapy to prevent NAFLD through modulating gut microbiota, mucosal permeability and SCFAs secretion with liver fat and inflammatory responses.

A pH-Responsive and MRI-Functional nanomedicine enabling targeted delivery of simvastatin in atherosclerosis

Abstract Background Simvastatin is commonly used for the treatment of atherosclerosis. However, it causes side effects in some patients and not always effective. Moreover, although its treatment effects are often attributed to its cholesterol-lowering activity, some in vitro studies suggest that simvastatin also exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Purpose To develop an atherosclerotic plaque microenvironment-responsive nanoparticular system to deliver and release Gadolinium (Gd3+) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and simvastatin for treatment within the plaque. Methods A nanoparticle was synthesized with nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs), a pH-responsive linker, Gd3+, and simvastatin (ST), i.e. a ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticle. The biological effects of ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticle were tested on RAW264.7 macrophages. Four weeks old ApoE-/- mice were fed on high fat diet for 4 weeks and then randomly divided into three groups for a 8-week treatment regime via weekly intravenous administration of: 1) NCP-PEG nanoparticle without ST (control); 2) ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticles; or 3) free ST. Results We have developed a pH-responsive ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticle carrying an MRI contrast agent Gd3+ and a drug molecule ST, with an 80 nm diameter in spherical shape. This nanoparticle collapsed into biodegradable components while releasing both Gd3+ and ST under the atherosclerotic plaque microenvironment with a pH 5.6. ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticles exerted strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, as determined by an intracellular ROS indicator DCF-DA and expression levels of cytokines (e.g. IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1), respectively. Upon intravenous administration, ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticles, as demonstrated by IVIS imaging system, accumulated specifically in the plaques in a time-dependent manner, reaching the peak concentration at 24 hours post administration. The plaques were readily visualized by MR imaging (T1-weighted signal) due to the enrichment of Gd3+. After 8 weeks treatment, compared to the empty NCP-PEG nanoparticle, treatment with ST/NCP-PEG and free ST reduced plaque lesion size by 55% (p<0.001) and 29% (p<0.05), respectively. Moreover, ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticles showed a larger reduction in plaque lesions than free ST (p<0.05). Oil red O staining of both the whole aorta and the aortic roots generated similar results in terms of plaque lesion changes. Mechanistically, both ST/NCP-PEG and free ST reduced ROS production and increased the ratios of M2/M1 macrophages within the plaque, with ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticle treatment exerted larger therapeutic effects. Moreover, long-term treatment with ST/NCP-PEG nanoparticles did not show obvious toxicity in all major organs. Conclusions An atherosclerotic plaque microenvironment-responsive MR imaging functional nanoparticle for targeted delivery of ST to the plaque could diagnose atherosclerotic plaque and improve treatment efficacy of ST.

High-dose atorvastatin reduces oxidative stress of ischemia/reperfusion injury after isogeneic kidney transplantation in rats: in vivo, preclinical, case–control, open-label study

BackgroundRenal ischemia/reperfusion injury is an unavoidable event in transplantation in which free radical-mediated injury determines release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activation of innate immunity. In addition to their cholesterol-lowering action, statins have shown dose-dependent pleiotropic effects on inflammatory pathways and oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of high-dose atorvastatin (atorvastatin 40 mg/kg) in preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury in an animal model of kidney transplant.MethodsForty female rats underwent left nephrectomy and orthotopic autotransplantation. Animals were divided in four groups: A = Transplant only; B = high-dose atorvastatin + Transplant; C = right nephrectomy + Transplant; D = high-dose atorvastatin + right nephrectomy + Transplant. Bilateral nephrectomy was performed 24 h post-transplant. Oxidative stress was assessed measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity on renal tissue; ischemia/reperfusion injury was also evaluated by histology. Donor pre-treatment with high-dose atorvastatin improved oxidative stress.ResultsMDA levels were lower in group B versus A (p = 0.002) and D (p = 0.004). High-dose atorvastatin pre-treated rats displayed higher GPx activity in group B versus A (p = 0.009) and D (p = 0.005). SOD scavenger activity was also higher in group B versus A (p < 0.001) D (p < 0.001) and C (p = 0.003). MPO activity was lower in group B versus A (p = 0.02), C (p = 0.007) and D (p = 0.03). Histology revealed significantly lower rate of intratubular casts and luminal congestion in Group D versus C (p = 0.02 and p = 0.008, respectively).ConclusionsHigh-dose atorvastatin pre-treatment reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in a model of kidney transplant in the rat.

ITC study on the interaction of some bile salts with tragacanth, Arabic, and guar gums with potential cholesterol-lowering ability.

The urge of designing new safe and natural functional foods to control blood lipids and dispensable without the need of physician supervision, has increased especially after the coming into effect of the recent EU Commission regulation 2022/860, that regulates the consumption of "red yeast rice," made by fermentation of rice with Monascus purpureus, and perceived as a natural functional food, due to a health risk for frail consumers. The results of the present work are a part of the systematic study we are carrying out of the binding ability of some soluble dietary fibers (SDF) from different natural sources toward selected bile salts (BS). Measurements were carried out by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the idea to shed light on the mechanism, if any, by which they show cholesterol-lowering activity. Epidemiological studies are sometimes conflicting and offer only hypothesis about the mechanism of action, the most accredited being the reduction of reabsorption of BS in the gut. Previous measurements done on negatively charged pectin and alginate, showed specific binding interaction with monomer NaDC for pectin and no interaction at all for alginate. Chitosan, positively charged and soluble only at low pH, in 100 mM acetate buffer at pH = 3 shows strong exothermic interactions with NaTC and NaTDC. Here we considered two plant exudates (Arabic gum and tragacanth gum) and guar gum, extracted from guar beans, and their interaction with the same bile salts. ITC measurements do not evidence specific interactions between gums and the studied BS, so that their cholesterol lowering ability, if any, is due to a different mechanism very probably bound to the viscosity increase. Moreover, the addition of NaC, the most abundant BS in the bile, at very low concentration (under the cmc) causes a structural change of the solution. The obtained results seem to corroborate the hypothesis that the cholesterol lowering activity is related to the increase in viscosity of guar solution favored by NaC, the major component of the bile.

The association of rs1799983 eNOS gene polymorphism with dyslipidemia and efficacy of atorvastatin in correction of lipid exchange disorders in patients with diabetic nephropathy and essential hypertension

Objective — to search an association of rs1799983 endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism with dyslipidemia (DLP) and the efficacy of atorvastatin used in correction of lipid exchange disorders in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and essential hypertension (EH).&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study had been conducted in the clinical Department of Arterial Hypertension and Kidney Disease at L. T. Mala National Therapy Institute of NAMS of Ukraine (Kharkiv). Clinical examinations involved 89 patients (pts) (43(48.3%) females and 46(51.7%) males) with DN of II—IV stages and EH of II—III stages aged 34 to 78 years old (an average age is 57.11±1.89 years old). They were also genotyped for rs1799983 eNOS gene polymorphism (G894T) with a use of polymerase chain reaction. GG genotype was revealed in 29(32.6%) of pts, GT genotype was found in 33(37.1%) of cases and 27(30.3%) participants of the study had TT genotype. With the use of immune enzyme method, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‑C) and triglycerides (TG) were measured in all included pts. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL‑C), low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑C), non‑HDL‑C and coefficient of atherogenicity were calculated by known formulas. Atorvastatin was prescribed to all the pts included in study for correction of lipid exchange disorders in daily doses of 10—20 mg (an average daily dose was 16.7±0.91 mg) for 24 weeks.&#x0D; Results. Rs1799983 eNOS gene polymorphism in pts with DN and EH was found to be associated with lipid parameters characterized a phenotype of diabetic DLP with its peculiar disorders in the systems of reverse cholesterol transport and lipoprotein lipolysis of TG‑containing VLDL. In this case a dominant G allele was associated with less significant lipid disorders than a recessive T allele. A homozygous state with allele G (genotype GG) in pts with DN and EH was associated with abnormalities in the system of TG‑containing VLDL lipolysis and an appearance of T allele in genotype (genotypes GT and TT) made an additional negative contribution to the state of lipid exchange and transport. In pts with genotype GT abnormalities in reverse cholesterol transport added to disorders in the system of TG‑containing VLDL lipolysis and in pts with genotype TT there was a combination of disorders in the systems of direct, reverse cholesterol transport and lipoprotein lipolysis. The study of hypolipidemic effects of atorvastatin depended on genotype of rs1799983 eNOS gene polymorphism showed that in GG genotype atorvastatin demonstrated mainly a hypocholesterolemic action while in genotypes contained T allele (GT and TT) we observed a reduction of hypocholesterolemic effect against the background of significant hypotriglyceridemic action and elevation of HDL‑C.&#x0D; Conclusions. In pts with DN and EH rs1799983 eNOS gene polymorphism was associated with diabetic DLP. A recessive allele T was associated with significant lipid disorders compared with a dominant G allele. A significant hypocholesterolemic effect of atorvastatin was observed in case of a presence of G allele in pts genotype while a presence of T allele in pts genotype (GT and TT) was associated with a reduction of atorvastatin cholesterol lowering action.&#x0D;

Enhancement of in vitro cholesterol-lowering and anti-diabetic activities of gluten hydrolysate prepared using kiwifruit protease as affected by ultrasound and atmospheric cold plasma post-treatments

Enhancement of in vitro cholesterol-lowering and anti-diabetic activities of gluten hydrolysate prepared using kiwifruit protease as affected by ultrasound and atmospheric cold plasma post-treatments

Revitalizing allicin for cancer therapy: advances in formulation strategies to enhance bioavailability, stability, and clinical efficacy.

The main objective of this review is to highlight the therapeutic potential of allicin, a defense molecule in garlic known for its diverse health benefits, and address the key challenges of its bioavailability and stability. The research further aims to evaluate various formulation strategies and nanotechnology-based delivery systems that can resolve these issues and improve allicin's clinical efficacy, especially in cancer therapy. We conducted a comprehensive review of the available literature and previous studies, focusing on the therapeutic properties of allicin, its bioavailability, stability issues, and novel formulation strategies. We assessed the mechanism of action of allicin in cancer, including its effects on signaling pathways, cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, and tumor development. We also evaluated the outcomes of both in vitro and in vivo studies on different types of cancers, such as breast, cervical, colon, lung, and gastric cancer. Despite allicin's significant therapeutic benefits, including cardiovascular, antihypertensive, cholesterol-lowering, antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and immune-modulatory activity, its clinical utility is limited due to poor stability and unpredictable bioavailability. Allicin's bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract is dependent on the activity of the enzyme alliinase, and its stability can be affected by various conditions like gastric acid and intestinal enzyme proteases. Recent advances in formulation strategies and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems show promise in addressing these challenges, potentially improving allicin's solubility, stability, and bioavailability. Allicin offers substantial potential for cancer therapy, yet its application is hindered by its instability and poor bioavailability. Novel formulation strategies and nanotechnology-based delivery systems can significantly overcome these limitations, enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of allicin. Future research should focus on refining these formulation strategies and delivery systems, ensuring the safety and efficacy of these new allicin formulations. Clinical trials and long-term studies should be carried out to determine the optimal dosage, assess potential side effects, and evaluate their real-world applicability. The comparative analysis of different drug delivery approaches and the development of targeted delivery systems can also provide further insight into enhancing the therapeutic potential of allicin.

Nutritional quality analysis of different Moringa provenance in Bale, Southeast Ethiopia

Moringa is a tree with medicinal, nutritional, industrial, and socio-economic values. Moringa leaf extracts have potential antihypertensive, antispasmodic, antiulcer, diuretic, hepato-protective and cholesterol-lowering activities. The study was conducted to analyze the nutritional quality of different moringa provenances and to promote the best provenances for the end users. Field experiments were conducted in Goro and Dallo Mena districts of Bale located in Oromia regional state of Ethiopia. Collected samples were air-dried at room temperature and milled for laboratory analysis. According to this study growing environment did not bring significant variation (P&gt;0.05) in average mineral contents like Mg, Zn, P and CP content of the provenances. But significantly higher (P&lt;0.05) Na, K, and Ca were recorded for the samples collected from Dallo Mena district, whereas higher Ash and Fe content was recorded in Goro district. On the other hand, provenance from Dallo Mena and Bako is superior to most of the quality characters analyzed. However, the one from Arbaminch is higher in Na and Zn contents. Provenance from Abay Filiklik is higher in Ash, K and P content. Moringa leaf is rich in Ash, Zn, Cp, and Mg to the sufficient level, while Fe, Ca and P are to the level of high or double to triple to the optimum level when compared to the optimum nutrient content of plant material. Generally, higher mean and individual chemical quality values were recorded from provenances grown in Dallo Mena district except for K, Fe, Zn, and CP, which are higher in Goro. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 13(1): 83-88, June 2023

In vitro cholesterol lowering activity of Ganoderma australe mycelia based on mass spectrometry, synchrotron Fourier-transform infrared analysis and liver-spheroid bioactivity

Mycelia were cultivated from a Thai wild mushroom identified as Ganoderma australe based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and morphological analyses. The mycelial extracts were examined for their active ingredients using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC‒MS/MS) method. This revealed the presence of lovastatin and tentative compounds including p-coumaric, nicotinamide, gamma-aminobutyric acid, choline, nucleosides, amino acids, and saccharides. The extracts had an inhibitory effect on the activity of HMG-CoA reductase in a concentration-dependent manner. At 2.5 mg/mL, the G. australe extracts did not interfere with the viability of HepG2 spheroids, but their biochemical composition was altered as determined by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The lipid profile of the spheroids treated with the mycelial extract was distinct from that of the control and the 5 µM lovastatin treatment, corresponding with the production of cholesterol by the spheroids. The mycelia of G. australe increased the percentage of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) production to 71.35 ± 2.74%, compared to the control and lovastatin-treated spheroids (33.26 ± 3.15% and 32.13 ± 3.24%, respectively). This study revealed the superior effect of natural compound mixtures to pure lovastatin, and the potential use of Thailand’s wild G. australe as a functional food to prevent or alleviate hypercholesterolemia.

Enhanced Cholesterol-Lowering and Antioxidant Activities of Soymilk by Fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KML06.

This study aimed to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant activities of soymilk fermented with probiotic Lactobacillaceae strains and to investigate the production of related bioactive compounds. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KML06 (KML06) was selected for the fermentation of soymilk because it has the highest antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and β-glucosidase activities among the 10 Lactobacillaceae strains isolated from kimchi. The genomic information of strain KML06 was analyzed. Moreover, soymilk fermented with KML06 was evaluated for growth kinetics, metabolism, and functional characteristics during the fermentation period. The number of viable cells, which was similar to the results of radical scavenging activities and cholesterol assimilation, as well as the amount of soy isoflavone aglycones, daidzein, and genistein, was the highest at 12 h of fermentation. These results indicate that soymilk fermented with KML06 can prevent oxidative stress and cholesterol-related problems through the production of soy isoflavone aglycones.

Cholesterol-lowering activity by lactic acid bacteria isolated from yogurt from Boyolali, Indonesia

Abstract. Nurcahyani I, Susilowati A, Pangastuti A. 2023. Cholesterol-lowering activity by lactic acid bacteria isolated from yogurt from Boyolali, Indonesia. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 21: 34-45. Hypercholesterolemia is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as it is characterized by increased cholesterol levels in the bloodstream that exceed the established normal range. At present, cardiovascular disease stands as the foremost cause of mortality worldwide, with a global death toll of 17.7 million. The employment of Lactic Acid Bacteria as a probiotic has the potential to reduce cholesterol levels via the enzymatic of Bile Salt Hydrolase (BSH), which facilitates the deconjugation of bile salts, as well as its capacity to assimilate cholesterol directly. The consumption of fermented dairy products that have undergone appropriate bacterial fermentation has been found to potentially contribute to a reduction in blood cholesterol. The region of Boyolali in Indonesia is known for its yogurt production; regularly consuming probiotic products has been suggested as a dietary approach to promoting long-term hypocholesterolemia effects. The objective of this research was to isolate and evaluate the efficacy of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) in reducing cholesterol levels, and to identify the specific isolates derived from yogurt originating from Boyolali. The activity of the BSH enzyme was evaluated through qualitative testing by observing precipitation zones on the growth media. A quantitative assessment was also conducted using the UV-vis spectrophotometer method at ?570 nm. LAB isolates' activity in bile salt deconjugation and cholesterol assimilation was also measured using the UV-vis spectrophotometer method at ?660 nm and ?550 nm, respectively. The bacterial identification process was conducted through the examination of both macroscopic and microscopic morphology. The study employed a One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to compare the release of amino acids (specifically glycine and taurine), the release of free cholic acid, and the disparity in cholesterol levels between media that were inoculated with LAB and those that were not. The BSH enzyme activity was observed to be 1.11-3.82 U/mL for sodium glycocholate substrate and 0.85-3.13 U/mL for sodium taurocholic substrate. The recorded levels of bile salt activity were 0.52-1.26 µmol/mL for the sodium glycocholate substrate and 0.43-0.9 µmol/mL for the sodium taurocholic substrate. The percentage of assimilated cholesterol ranges from 38.69% to 71.98%.

Marine Chitosan-Oligosaccharide Ameliorated Plasma Cholesterol in Hypercholesterolemic Hamsters by Modifying the Gut Microflora, Bile Acids, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids.

This study evaluated the cholesterol-alleviating effect and underlying mechanisms of chitosan-oligosaccharide (COS) in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. Male hamsters (n = 24) were divided into three groups in a random fashion, and each group was fed one particular diet, namely a non-cholesterol diet (NCD), a high-cholesterol diet (HCD), and an HCD diet substituting 5% of the COS diet for six weeks. Subsequently, alterations in fecal bile acids (BAs), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gut microflora (GM) were investigated. COS intervention significantly reduced and increased the plasma total cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in hypercholesteremic hamsters. Furthermore, Non-HDL-C and total triacylglycerols (TG) levels were also reduced by COS supplementation. Additionally, COS could reduce and increase food intake and fecal SCFAs (acetate), respectively. Moreover, COS had beneficial effects on levels of BAs and GM related to cholesterol metabolism. This study provides novel evidence for the cholesterol-lowering activity of COS.