Screening of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors In Vitro and Its Application to Pullets

The primary objective of these studies was to screen the materials showing inhibitions of HMG-CoA reductase in vitro. The secondary objective was to determine the effect of garlic, lovastatin and copper on cholesterol concentrations in plasma, liver and breast tissues in pullets. The degree of inhibition of the selective samples on HMG-CoA reductase activity was determined in vitro. The inhibition ratios of water soluble garlic extracts, lovastatin (methanol extracts) and copper to HMG-CoA reductase activity were 51.3%, 87.5%, and 82.0%, respectively. Control diet (basal diet) and experimental diets, garlic powder (3% in diet), lovastatin (300mg/Kg of diet) and copper (200mg/Kg of diet) were fed to pullets in order to investigate the changes of cholesterol concentration in plasma and tissues. Total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol in blood plasma were significantly reduced in pullets fed diet containing 3% garlic powder. However, copper significantly increased total cholesterol compared to control and lovastatin did not affect plasma cholesterol concentration. Total cholesterol and triglyceride of liver and breast tissues in pullets were not affected by adding the cholesterol-lowering materials to diets. The data suggests that it is not easy for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors to reduce cholesterol levels in body due to complication of cholesterol metabolism. However, garlic administration can lower the levels of plasma cholesterol in pullets.