Effect of Hamycin on Plasma Cholesterol of Rat 1 2

Abstract

Summary

Hamycin, a polyene antibiotic, when administered orally with food or by a cannula or administered intraperitoneally produced a dose-dependent hypocholes-terolemic effect on normal albino rats. A 50 % decrease occurred in serum cholesterol level at 25-50 mg/kg oral dose of hamycin. No further decrease occurred in serum cholesterol level with increase in the oral dosage. Decrease in the serum cholesterol occurring with 0.5-1.0 mg/kg, ip dose of the antibiotic was similar to that observed with oral hamycin and suggest that the effect was possibly mediated through mechanisms other than those involving prevention of absorption of cholesterol through the gastrointestinal tract.