Prickly pear induces upregulation of liver LDL binding in familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia.
BACKGROUND
The hypoglycemic effect of prickly pear is well known by native local Indian population since a long time. Beside the beneficial effects on lipid metabolism, oxidation injury and platelet function has been claimed in experimental animals. We recently found an upregulation of apo-B/E receptor.


METHODS
We therefore examined 10 patients with isolated heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) being enrolled in a dietary run-in phase of 6 weeks after dietary counselling and a further 6 weeks of prickly pear addition. Uptake of autologous (123)I-radiolabeled LDL was determined at entry as well as after 6 weeks of daily prickly pear ingestion.


RESULTS
We found a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in LDL-uptake by the liver (24.5 +/- 4.9 vs. 31.1 +/- 5.2%) and an enhanced decay in circulating blood. Total (298.0 --> 268.0 mg/dl; p < 0.0001) and LDL-cholesterol (210.5 --> 176.4 mg/dl; p = 0.0001) were significantly affected, while HDL (p = 0.0629) and triglycerides were not.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate a significant upregulation of (123)I-LDL binding by prickly pear in FH-patients invivo and indicate that prickly pear exerts a significant hypolipidemic action via receptor upregulation.
Palumbo
Barbara
B
Institute of Nuclear Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
Efthimiou
Yannis
Y
Stamatopoulos
Jorgos
J
Oguogho
Anthony
A
Budinsky
Alexandra
A
Palumbo
Renato
R
Sinzinger
Helmut
H
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals