title: ACAT inhibitors: the search for novel cholesterol lowering agents.
abstract: Increased level of serum cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is the most significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. Cholesterol levels are affected by factors such as rate of endogenous cholesterol synthesis, biliary cholesterol excretion and dietary cholesterol absorption. Acyl CoA: Cholesterol O-acyl transferases (ACAT) are a small family of enzymes that catalyze cholesterol esterification and cholesterol absorption in intestinal mucosal cells and maintain the cholesterol homeostasis in the blood. Inhibition of the ACAT enzymes is one of the attractive targets to treat hyperlipidemia. Literature survey shows that structurally diverse compounds possess ACAT inhibitory properties. In this review, a comprehensive presentation of the literature on diverse ACAT inhibitors has been given.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Tech. & Engg., The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390 001, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Palash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Hardik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Rajani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giridhar
authors.forename: Mange Ram
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002785:Sterol O-Acyltransferase