Antihypercholesterolemic properties of polyenes

Significant reduction in serum cholesterol levels can also be demonstrated in animals simultaneously fed polyenes and high sterol diets. Dogs appeared more able to maintain their serum cholesterol levels when fed sterols and filipin, amphotericin B or candicidin [145,535] but nystatin had no effect. The anti-hypercholesterolemic effect was not simply due to the prevention of sterol uptake [538,539]. A consequence of the excretion of sterol-polyene complexes in the faeces is the loss of bile salts (which are steroids) and this tends to remove sterol from the body. This resulted in increased hepatic synthesis, increased utilization of adipose fat and reduced sebum levels. Candicidin has been suggested as an antihypercholesterolemic agent in man [546]. 

It has also been reported that oral candicidin therapy of chickens resulted in a lower incidence of coronary artery lesions and reduced severity and incidence of aortic atheroschloris regardless of whether or not the birds received additional dietary sterol [547]. Amphotericin B therapy has been shown to reduce the cortisterone blood levels in experimental animals [548,549], Oral heptaene therapy (especially with candicidin) has been used in the treatment of acne in males without producing any hyperaoestrogenic effects [550]. 

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