Population Pharmacokinetics of Atorvastatin in High-Altitude and Plain Patients with Hyperlipidemic

The pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of drugs were altered under high-altitude hypoxia. We aim to describe the population PK of atorvastatin (ATV) to identify patient characteristics that are predictive of variability in the PK parameters of the ATV and investigate the effects of high-altitude hypoxia on the blood concentration of ATV in patients with hyperlipidemia. A total of 160 plasma concentrations were collected from 40 patients with hyperlipidemia in plateau areas and 40 in plain areas. The population pharmacokinetic model of patients with hyperlipidemia in plateau and plain areas of China was established by a nonlinear mixed-effects model. The PK of ATV were described by a 1-compartment model with first-order elimination. The main PK parameters of ATV were the first-order absorption rate (0.76 hour-1 fixed); clearance (174.22 L/h) and apparent volume of distribution (1119.62 L). The values of area and age were identified as significant covariates for the clearance, area, age, and urea for the volume of distribution. The steady-state peak concentration in the plateau area was higher than that in the plain area. This study may suggest dose reduction is necessary for patients with hyperlipidemia in high altitudes.

Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomics Reveal the Active Peptide of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker against Hyperlipidemia by Modulating Imbalance in Amino Acid Metabolism

The active peptide (APE) of Eupolyphaga sinensis Walker, which is prepared by bioenzymatic digestion, has significant antihyperlipidemic effects in vivo, but its mechanism of action on hyperlipidemia is not clear. Recent studies on amino acid metabolism suggested a possible link between it and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we first characterized the composition of APE using various methods. Then, the therapeutic effects of APE on hyperlipidemic rats were evaluated, including lipid levels, the inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. Finally, the metabolism-regulating mechanisms of APE on hyperlipidemic rats were analyzed using untargeted and targeted metabolomic approaches. The results showed that APE significantly reduced the accumulation of fat, oxidative stress levels, and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Untargeted metabolomic analysis showed that the mechanism of the hypolipidemic effect of APE was mainly related to tryptophan metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and purine metabolism. Amino-acid-targeted metabolomic analysis showed that significant differences in the levels of eight amino acids occurred after APE treatment. Among them, the expression of tryptophan, alanine, glutamate, threonine, valine, and phenylalanine was upregulated, and that of arginine and proline was downregulated in APE-treated rats. In addition, APE significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of SREBP-1, SREBP-2, and HMGCR. Taking these points together, we hypothesize that APE ameliorates hyperlipidemia by modulating amino acid metabolism in the metabolome of the serum and feces, mediating the SREBP/HMGCR signaling pathway, and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation levels.

Effect of Bergamot and Laoxianghuang Polysaccharides on Gut Microbiota Derived from Patients with Hyperlipidemia: An Integrative Analysis of Microbiome and Metabolome during In Vitro Fermentation

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bergamot polysaccharide (BP) and Laoxianghuang polysaccharides (LPs, fermented bergamot) on the microbiome and metabolome during the in vitro fermentation of gut microbiota from patients with hyperlipidemia. Results indicated that both BP and LPs were able to increase the production of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. However, only LPs could decrease the content of isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid, which are detrimental to gut health. A 16S rRNA analysis showed that both BP and LPs could reduce the proportion of Fusobacterium, whereas they increased the Bacteroides content in hyperlipidemia. Untargeted UPLC-MS/MS metabolomic profiling found six bio-markers that were significantly changed after BP and LPs intervention, and four of the down-regulated metabolites were long-chain fatty acids associated with vascular diseases. These findings provide new evidence that BP and LPs have the potential to regulate imbalances in the gut microbiota in patients with hyperlipidemia and ameliorate its metabolic abnormalities.

Antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of Premna spinosa bark in experimental animal models

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the antidiabetic and hyperlipidemic potential of stem bark extract of Premna spinosa (Lamiaceae), by using streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA)-induced diabetic and triton-induced hyperlipidemic models in albino rats. The blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were determined in STZ-NA-induced diabetic and triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats, as per the respective protocols. It was found that there is the dose dependent and significant reduction in foregoing parameters on the administration of extract from Premna spinosa stem bark at the doses of 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight to diabetic and hyperlipidemic rats. From these observed results it may be inferred that the stem bark of Premna spinosa possesses remarkable antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.

Biological Importance of a Biflavonoid 'Bilobetin' in the Medicine: Medicinal Importance, Pharmacological Activities and Analytical Aspects

BACKGROUND

Flavonoid class phytochemicals are natural compounds present in different medicinal plants, vegetables and fruits. Ginkgo biloba contains significant amounts of bioflavonoid 'bilobetin'. Bilobetin is an active phytochemical used for the treatment of human health complications due to its medicinal properties and therapeutic benefit. The purpose of this work is to collect and reviewed scientific data on bilobetin from different literature sources; highlight their biological properties, pharmacological activities and analytical aspects.

METHODS

Health beneficial aspects of bilobetin have been investigated in the present work through scientific data analysis. PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, Scopus, etc. have been searched in the present work in order to collect scientific information on bilobetin. Medicinal importance and therapeutic benefit of bilobetin has been searched in the present work through these databases of bilobetin. Detailed pharmacological activities of bilobetin have been reviewed in the present work through literature data analysis of various scientific research works. However, analytical data of bilobetin were also collected and reviewed in the present reaserch.

RESULTS

Literature data analysis of bilobetin in the present work revealed the medicinal properties and therapeutic potential of bilobetin mainly due to its anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and anti-proliferative activities. Literature data analysis revealed the effectiveness of bilobetin on osteoporosis, glucose metabolism, adipocytes, SARS CoV-2, Influenza A virus and human thrombin. Scientific data also revealed the importance of different analytical techniques for the isolation, separation, identification, and quantification of bilobetin.

CONCLUSION

Scientific data analysis revealed biological importance and pharmacological activities of bilobetin in the health sector.

Chemical and Sensory Evaluation of Balady Bread Supplemented with Watermelon Rinds Flour and its Anti-Hyperlipidemic Effect in Male Albina Rats

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Watermelon is a good source of minerals, vitamins and dietary fibers. It has been considered a health benefits effect due to the high amount of antioxidants and phytonutrients such as phenolics, flavonoids, phytosterols and other medicinal compounds which decrease the risk of cardiovascular, diabetes and cancer. This research was carried out to study the effect of wheat flour (WF) supplemented with different levels of watermelon rinds flour (WRF) on the chemical and organoleptic properties of balady bread. Furthermore, the effect of prepared bread on reducing blood lipids of hyperlipidemic rats. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Wheat flour (WF) has been supplemented with different levels (5, 10, 15 and 20%) of watermelon rinds flour (WRF). The chemical and organoleptic properties of balady bread and the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of prepared bread on hyperlipidemic rats were evaluated. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The results indicated that incorporation of WRF in balady bread wheat flour increased the fibre, ash and minerals content of prepared bread. While carbohydrates content and energy value were decreased by increasing the WRF substitution levels. Organoleptic evaluation tests showed that up to 15% of WF could be replaced with WRF in balady bread and still more acceptable bread compared with control bread samples. In addition, rats fed on a hyperlipidemic diet containing balady bread fortified with WRF showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) and Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (V-LDL) level by increasing the amounts of simultaneous supplementation with WRF 5-15% in the formulated balady bread compared to control samples. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; The research recommended that the 15% replacement of WRF gave good quality properties and lead to reducing body weight and serum lipid profile of hyperlipidemic rats.

The Efficacy of Squalene in Cardiovascular Disease Risk-A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Squalene (SQ), an intermediate for the cholesterol biosynthesis, has been proposed to act similarly to statins via inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in the liver.

PURPOSE

This paper explores the effects of SQ in CVD.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify relevant studies about SQ and CVD. A comprehensive search in Medline and Scopus for relevant studies published between the years 1946 and 2019 was performed. The main inclusion criteria were that the study was published in English; that the study reported association or effect of SQ and CVD; and that CVD should be related to lifestyle variables, aging, or experimentally induced conditions.

RESULTS

The literature searches identified 5562 potentially relevant articles, whereby 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. There were three human studies and 18 animal experimental studies included in this paper. Only one human study reported positive outcome of SQ in CVD. The remaining two studies reported inconsistent and/or no effect. For animal studies, 15 studies reported positive effect while the remaining reported negative and/or no effect of SQ on various related parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

This evidence-based review emphasizes the potential of SQ being used for cardiovascular-related diseases. The effect of SQ, especially of plant-based warrants further exploration. Controlled human observational studies should be performed to provide comprehensive evidence.

Naringin administration inhibits platelet aggregation and release by reducing blood cholesterol levels and the cytosolic free calcium concentration in hyperlipidemic rabbits

This study investigated the effects of naringin on platelet aggregation and release in hyperlipidemic rabbits, and the underlying mechanisms. The safety of naringin was also investigated. The rabbits were orally administered 60, 30 or 15 mg/kg of naringin once a day for 14 days after being fed a high fat/cholesterol diet for four weeks. Following the two weeks of drug administration, the degree of platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, adenosine diphosphate and collagen was significantly reduced by naringin at certain doses compared with those in the rabbits of the model group (P<0.01). The levels of P-selectin and platelet factor 4 (PF4) also decreased following treatment with naringin compared with those of the model group. Certain doses of naringin significantly reduced the total cholesterol (TC) levels and elevated the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to TC compared with those in the model group, and significantly decreased the cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). No significant difference in the coagulation function was observed between the control and drug-treatment groups. These results indicate that naringin improved platelet aggregation and inhibited the excessive release of P-selectin and PF4 in hyperlipidemic rabbits. This study suggests that the antiplatelet effect of naringin may be due to its ability to regulate the levels of blood cholesterol and [Ca²⁺]_i in platelets. Naringin also did not cause bleeding in the hyperlipidemic rabbits.