Anti-inflammatory and hypolipemic effects in vitro of simvastatin comparing to epicatechin in patients with type-2 hypercholesterolemia.
OBJECTIVE
The study involved 25 patients with type-2 hypercholesterolemia (mean age 49.3+/-11.3). The control group consisted of 28 healthy individuals (mean age 50.7+/-7.2).


METHODS
The cholesterol concentrations in plasma membranes of erythrocytes were measured by means of Liebermann-Burchard reagent. The membrane lipid peroxidation in whole erythrocytes was determined. The membrane fluidity was estimated by spin labelled method.


RESULTS
The in vitro study shows that the cholesterol concentration in membranes incubated with simvastatin and epicatechin decreases; in healthy donors there are no changes. Simvastatin does not lead to changes in the lipid peroxidation in the in vitro data. Epicatechin decreases the level of membrane lipid peroxidation in patients with hypercholesterolemia and in healthy donors. Simvastatin and epicatechin cause an increase in the fluidity of plasma membranes of erythrocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Simvastatin causes the decrease in cholesterol concentration in erythrocytes membranes not only in the in vivo but also the in vitro experiments. Flavonoids have antioxidant properties in vitro. Simvastatin influences the lipid peroxidation only in vivo, not in vitro systems. This observation is an additional contribution to the statins' pleiotropic effect.
Franiak-Pietryga
I
I
Department of Environmental Pollution Biophysics, University of Lodz, 12/16 Banacha St., 90-237 Lodz, Poland. ida.fp@interia.pl
Koter-Michalak
M
M
Broncel
M
M
Duchnowicz
Piotr
P
Chojnowska-Jezierska
J
J
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002392:Catechin; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin