Effect of Annurca apple extract on anti-hyper cholesterol action of a RYR based formulation

Recently, European Authorities imposed that any product for daily consumption shall provide less than 3 mg of monacolins from red yeast rice (RYR). This obliges to find new formulations able to guarantee an effect on cholesterol levels close to that performed by 10 mg of monacolin K. Two different formulations based on chitosan and xanthan gum containing 10 mg of lovastatin from RYR and a combination of lovastatin (3 mg) from RYR and annurca apple extract (AC), respectively, were compared to verify their anti-hyper cholesterol action in terms of inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, protection of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from oxidation and total free cholesterol depletion. Results highlighted that the combination of RYR and AC represents a valid alternative to the use of high dose of monacolin K. Indeed, formulations containing both nutraceuticals showed a significantly higher activity in terms of inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, antioxidant activity towards both HDL and LDL and depletion of free cholesterol.