Promising therapeutic approaches to inhibition of atherogenic modification (desialylation) of low-density lipoproteins

Abstract

We have previously detected and isolated from human blood serum an enzyme that causes atherogenic modification of low-density lipoproteins (LDLP). Modified LDLP stimulate accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessel cells and thus cause one of the main manifestations of atherosclerosis at cellular level. In the present study we investigated the influence of herbal extracts and honeybee products on trans-sialidase activity of human serum. We found that extracts of garlic, onion, yarrow, St. John’s wort, royal kombu, bladder wrack and honey reduce trans-sialidase activity in vitro. The greatest inhibitory effect (90%) was shown for pollen and garlic powder. Oral administration of pollen and garlic powder caused approximately two-fold reduction of serum trans-sialidase activity ex vivo. The reduction of serum trans-sialidase activity correlates with the decreased serum ability to cause cholesterol accumulation in cultured cells of unaffected human aortic intima.