Chitinase-bile salts complexes: a new approach for management of Hypercholesterolemia

ABSTRACT

The interaction of chitosan and both sodium cholate and sodium deoxycholate was evaluated by viscosity measurement, differential scanning calorimetry [DSC] and Fourier-transform infrared [FT-IR] spectroscopy. The binding ratio of chitosan with sodium cholate or sodium deoxycholate was found to be 1 10. DSC and IR studies revealed that chitosan forms complexes with both sodium cholate and deoxycholate. The effect of chitosan on serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins levels was also studied in rats fed with 2% cholesterol supplemented diet. Oral administration of chitosan in a dose of 1 g/kg body weight mixed with the cholesterol supplemented diet daily for 14 days resulted in significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels [P <0.01] compared with the group received cholesterol supplemented diet alone. Serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were not significantly affected. Since chitosan has extremely low toxicity and commonly used in sustained release dosage forms, these results encourage clinical trials of chitosan in treatment of hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and related disorders