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Oxyphytosterols – new cholesterol lowering agents
Mikonik Technologies, Ltd. has made considerable progress in developing a drug targeting lipid disorders. A new method for improving blood cholesterol and its conjugates levels in mammals, including humans, has been developed. It is based on the administration of plant growth hormone 24-epibrassinolide widely distributed in natural sources. This new approach is highly efficient for the lowering of elevated levels of cholesterol and lipids and for the improving some protective blood factors. In particular, it allows lowering after four-eight-week administration (0.03-20 mcg per kg) total cholesterol (18-44%), LDL (11-26%), VLDL (11-51%), triglycerides (51-68%) and increasing HDL (24-47%) under cholesterol-enriched and normal diet in animals and in a human.
The efficacy of the new anti-atherosclerosis agent is higher than the efficacy of previously known medicines in respect to both active dose and level of produced effect. An important feature of the approach is a possibility to use 24-epibrassinolide not only for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia but also with a prophylactic purpose in normocholesterolemia condition to lower the risks connected with genetic or nutritive factors. Additional attractiveness of the therapeutic and prophylactic use of the proposed method is guaranteed by relatively low cost of its application, which is significantly lower than in the case of statins.
We found that 24-epibrassinolide had an ability to protect in vitro (formazan assay, supravital cell staining by the trypan blue, indirect immunofluorescence) the living cells against HIV-1-cytopathic action. The obtained results showed that 24-epibrassinolide decreased HIV-specific antigen production in the infected cells at a concentration of 5-100 ng per ml.
It may be speculated that being normal constituent of plants and a food component, 24-epibrassinolide is safe and non-toxic compound for a wide application in medicine and in prophylactic purposes. We elaborated the first immuno-enzymatic assay for quantitative determination of 24-epibrassinolide.
24-Epibrassinolidel is one of promising polyoxygenated sterols which are under investigation in our company as possible agonists/antagonists of oxysterol receptors, virus-protective and anti-cancer substances.
Our company seeks patent protection of inventions originating from our research and development. Last Mikonik Technologies, Ltd. invention provides a new method for cholesterol control and treatment of viral infections, which is based on the administration of steroidal plant hormone 24-epibrassinolide. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of a compound known as steroidal plant hormone 24-epibrassinolide l for the improving blood cholesterol and its conjugates levels in mammals and treatment of infections caused by virus responsible for human immune deficiency (HIV). Taking into account low toxicity of 24-epibrassinolide as well as its other positive effects, like decreasing blood cholesterol, this compound may be used as food additive for HIV/AIDS prophylaxis. With respect to HIV, it means any measures which are aimed at preventing AIDS-related infections and illnesses.
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