Blood serum atherogenicity: Cellular test for the development of anti-atherosclerotic therapy

Atherosclerosis is one of the main problems in modern medical practice. This multifactorial disease can remain asymptomatic for a long time before manifesting itself in cardiovascular disorders, causing ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction and even sudden death. Many synthetic drugs have been developed to reduce the symptoms of atherosclerosis, however, their efficacy in terms of reduction of atherosclerotic lesions progression is a matter of debate. Adverse effects of the exiting therapy should also be taken into account. The development of cellular models and improved understanding of the mechanisms of atherogenesis at the vascular wall level helped establishing the “direct anti-atherosclerosis therapy” approach. In this approach, the decrease of intracellular lipid deposition and atherogenicity of human blood serum are considered primary (direct) antiatherosclerotic effects. Screening of synthetic and natural substances for anti-atherosclerotic activity revealed a number of botanicals that could be used for direct anti-atherosclerotic therapy to treat early-stage atherosclerosis. As a result, 3 novel non-pharmaceutical products were developed (Allicor, Inflaminat and Karinat). Studies on in vitro and ex vivo models of atherogenesis confirmed their anti-atherosclerotic and anti-atherogenic activities and safety in patients. Clinical studies of Allicor, Inflminat and Karinat were carried out in subjects with diagnosed early stage atherosclerosis, demonstrating a clinically significant anti-atherosclerotic effect of the drugs. In this overview, we will present the complete process of the development of novel non-pharmaceutical products and report the results obtained in the conducted pre-clinical and clinical studies of these medications.