The cholesterol lowering properties of the complex compound simvastatin with glycyrrhizic acid (simvaglyzin) in experimental models

A molecular complex of simvastatin (SV) and glycyrrhizic acid (GA) (at their ratio of 1 : 4) has been synthesized. The complex named “simvaglyzin” (SVG) was stable in aqueous and aqueous-alcohol solutions at GA concentrations exceeding 0.2 mM. In vitro SVG acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (3-HMG-CoA) reductase (Ki of 94 nM). Appearance of this inhibitory activity is associated with cytochrome P450-dependent conversion of SVG, because the addition of 1 mM metyrapone to the incubation medium fully prevented the inhibition of 3-HMG-CoA reductase. SV and SVG (used at 300 nM concentration) inhibited mevalonate synthesis rate by 39.15±8,27 and 38.85±3,04%, respectively. In vivo SVG showed a dose-dependent cholesterol lowering effect. In rats the cholesterol lowering effect of SVG used at daily doses equivalent to 66 and 100 mg/kg of SV was the same as the effect of SV administered at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg. The decrease in total cholesterol of blood serum was 7% and 9% ( p < 0.05) and 8%, respectively. Myotoxicity of these SVG doses estimated by blood serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity was lower than that of SV. In rats treated with SV the activity of CPK increased by 79% ( p < 0.01), while in SVG treated rats it decreased by 30% and 36% ( p < 0.05). Any increase of the hepatotoxicity markers alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase in blood serum was not observed. The data suggest pharmacological synergism attributed to the SV-GA complex formation and increased safety of the resultant complex compared with a parent compound.