Hypocholesterolemic effect of khellin and khelloside in female cynomolgus monkeys.

Khellin and khelloside (khellol glucoside) were examined in female cynomolgus monkeys to substantiate their ability to favorably modify serum lipoprotein cholesterol. Clinical chemistry parameters were also measured to obtain information indicative of possible drug toxicity. Both drugs were evaluated in two week multiple-dose studies and after a single oral dose. After two weeks at 20 mg/kg per day, khellin and khelloside significantly lowered low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 87% and 73%, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 41% and 23%, and total-C by 55% and 44%, respectively. Very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were not changed. No apparent toxicity was observed as clinical chemistry parameters and body weights were not different compared to control values. Similar results were observed with lower doses of khellin and khelloside. Khellin at 5 mg/kg per day reduced LDL-C by 50%, HDL-C by 15%, and total-C by 30%, while khellol glucoside at 10 mg/kg per day lowered LDL-C by 46%, HDL-C by 20%, and total-C by 31%. Neither drug produced significant changes in VLDL-C, TG, body weights, or clinical chemistry variables. A 2 mg/kg per day dose of khellin also had no observable effect in this study. Single oral doses (20 mg/kg) of khellin and khelloside caused modulation of LDL-C (-32% and -30%) and total-C (-18% and -15%). Visual observation of the monkeys during this study revealed that khellin caused emesis in 9/9 animals, while khelloside and control had no emetic effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)