[The hypolipidemic and antiatherosclerotic properties of the ammonium salt of glycyrrhetic acid and of 18-dehydroglycyrrhetic acid].

Plant compounds ammonium salt of glycyrretic acid (AGA) and 18-dehydroglycyrretic acid (18-DHGA) effectively reduced the concentration of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and atherogenic lipoproteins in blood serum of rabbits with modeled cholesterol atherosclerosis. They reduced significantly the content of malonic dialdehyde and raised the activity of superoxide dismutase in the animals' organs. Due to their powerful hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect AGA and 18-DHGA significantly reduced the surface of the atherosclerotic changes of the aorta. Both compounds considerably excel polisponin in the indicated properties.