In the present study, the hypocholesterolemic activity of phytosterols and phytostanols was compared. Phytostanols were prepared by hydrogenating a phytosterol mixture from corn oil and were fed at different levels (0.1-1.0%) to male rats for 10 to 14 days with or without cholesterol (1.0%). In an appropriate combination with cholesterol, phytostanols showed significantly greater activity in lowering the plasma and possibly liver cholesterol levels in comparison with the corresponding phytosterols. The stanols further stimulated the fecal recovery of cholesterol. The rate of intestinal absorption of phytostanols appeared obviously lower than that of phytosterols and thus the deposition into plasma and liver lipids was almost negligible.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Large-scale manufacturing of all four 2'-deoxynucleosides via novel strategies including a chemo-enzymatic process.

A chemical synthesis of 2-deoxyribose-1-phosphate 2 and its enzymatic conversion into purine 2'-deoxynucleosides (dNus) are shown. Besides the chemo-enzymatic process for purine dNus, a modified process for practical dC preparation is also established. Consequently, a series of practical manufacturing processes of all four dNus have been realized via novel strategies.

Purine Nucleosides↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid balance on tissue lipid levels, fatty acid patterns, and eicosanoid production in rats.

The effect of varying n-6/n-3 ratios (0.6-10.2) of dietary fats on various lipid parameters was examined in rats under a constant P/S ratio (1.4-1.5) with sardine oil as the source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) by a combination of palm and safflower oils. The concentration of serum cholesterol tended to increase with n-6/n-3 of up to approximately 2, whereas aortic cholesterol decreased. The proportion of arachidonic acid in liver, heart, and aorta phosphatidylcholine increased linearly with increasing n-6/n-3 whereas that of linoleic acid reached a plateau at this ratio of approximately 4. The proportion of n-3 PUFAs decreased with increasing n-6/n-3 in tissue phosphatidylcholine. Although the production of prostacyclin (PGI2) by the thoracic aorta and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) by platelets increased with increasing n-6/n-3, TXA2/PGI2 was maintained at a low level up to n-6/n-3 of approximately 5. These results indicate that, when fish oil is the source of n-3 PUFAs, n-6/n-3 of 2-5 seems to be desirable for the various lipid parameters related to atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Animals↗