Hyodeoxycholic acid, also known as HDCA, is a secondary bile acid. Natural 6alpha-hydroxylated bile acids are receptor-specific activators of nuclear liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha), a nuclear receptor regulating the expression of the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene. AHRO-001 (Hyodeoxycholic acid) is in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Through a complex signaling processes utilizing LXR receptors, the compound is designed to increase the efficiency of cholesterol efflux using the HDL cells, which act on all cholesterol in the arterial circulation as well as in the lipid core of plaque deposits in the artery walls. Use of AHRO-001 has shown no adverse effects on morbidity, mortality or toxicity and has been well tolerated at high doses.

T0901317 is a potent, high affinity liver X receptors (LXRs) agonist. It upregulates expression of the ABCA1 gene associated with cholesterol efflux regulation and high-density lipoproteins metabolism. It also exhibits inverse agonist activity at constitutive androstane receptors (CARs). T0901317 activates bile acid farnesoid X receptors (FXRs), and it is 10-fold more potent than natural FXR ligand chenodeoxycholic acid.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.

Stigmastanol is a plant lipid molecule that resembles cholesterol in structure. It inhibits cholesterol absorption. Sitostanol powder (1 g) reduced cholesterol absorption by only 11.3 /- 7.4% (P = 0.2), confirming in vitro data showing poor solubility of sitostanol powder in artificial bile. In contrast, sitostanol in lecithin micelles reduced cholesterol absorption by 36.7 /- 4.2% (P = 0.003) at a dose of 700 mg and by 34.4 /- 5.8% (P = 0.01) at a dose of 300 mg. Stigmasterol, which is used for the synthesis of progesterone and vitamin D3 is a potential anti-inflammatory compound. Its action is mediated by the inhibition of several pro-inflammatory and matrix degradation mediators involved in osteoarthritis-induced cartilage degradation.

27-Hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) is an endogenous oxysterol produced by the enzyme CYP27A1, with multiple biological functions, including acting as a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) and as an agonist of the liver X receptor (LXR). Because of its estrogenic action, 27-HC stimulates the growth of ER-positive breast cancer cells and has been implicated in limiting the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of breast cancer.

Hyodeoxycholic acid, also known as HDCA, is a secondary bile acid. Natural 6alpha-hydroxylated bile acids are receptor-specific activators of nuclear liver X receptor alpha (LXRalpha), a nuclear receptor regulating the expression of the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene. AHRO-001 (Hyodeoxycholic acid) is in phase I clinical trials for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Through a complex signaling processes utilizing LXR receptors, the compound is designed to increase the efficiency of cholesterol efflux using the HDL cells, which act on all cholesterol in the arterial circulation as well as in the lipid core of plaque deposits in the artery walls. Use of AHRO-001 has shown no adverse effects on morbidity, mortality or toxicity and has been well tolerated at high doses.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.

The isomer of fucosterol, isofucosterol, has been identified as a minor constituent of marine sponge, Gynostemma pentafillum, oat seeds and a few other plants. Isofucosterol of marine sponge is believed to be the biosynthetic precursors of the antiviral orthoesterols and weinbersterols found in the same sponge. Isofucosterol exhibits lipase inhibitory effect, suggesting that it has potential as anti-obesity agent.