Ezetimibe-associated ApoA-I mimetic peptides showing enhanced synergism

1. A method of preparing an ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, said method comprising:

incubating ezetimibe and an apoA-I mimetic peptide comprising the amino acid sequence DWLKAFYDKFFEKFKEFF (SEQ ID NO:1), in a solution comprising ethyl acetate and acetic acid or in a solution comprising ethyl lactate and lactic acid; and

drying said solution to provide a dry ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide wherein said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma total cholesterol to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said incubating comprises incubating 1:10 ezetimibe: apoA-I mimetic peptide by weight.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said drying comprises:

drying said solution to produce a dry residue;

resuspending said residue in water to provide a resuspended mixture; and

drying the resuspended mixture to provide a dry powder extract comprising ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said drying the resuspended mixture comprises lyophilizing said mixture to provide said dry powder extract.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said resuspending comprises re-suspending said residue in distilled water.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein said resuspending comprises re-suspending said residue in de-ionized water.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein said resuspending comprises re-suspending said residue in food-grade water.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incubating peptide with ezetimibe is for at least about 10 minutes, or at least about 15 minutes, or at least about 30 minutes, or at least about 45 minutes, or at least about 1 hr, or at least about 1.5 hrs, or at least about 2 hrs, or at least about 3 hrs, or at least about 4 hrs, or at least about 5 hours, or at least about 6 hrs, or at least about 12 hours, or at least about 1 day.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said incubating comprises incubating said ezetimibe and said apoA-I mimetic peptide in a solution comprising ethyl acetate and acetic acid.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said solution comprises about 5% acetic acid.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said solution comprises about 1% to about 25% acetic acid.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said incubating comprises incubating said ezetimibe and said apoA-I mimetic peptide in a solution comprising ethyl lactate and lactic acid.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said solution comprises about 5% lactic acid.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said solution comprises about 1% to about 25% lactic acid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said apoA-I mimetic peptide is a chemically synthesized peptide; or

said apoA-I mimetic peptide is a peptide recombinantly expressed in a plant cell.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said apoA-I mimetic peptide is provided as a tissue of a transgenic plant wherein said tissue contains the ApoA-I mimetic peptide expressed by said plant.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

said tissue is provided as a substantially dry powder;

said powder is mixed with said solution comprising ethyl acetate and acetic acid or with said solution comprising ethyl lactate and lactic acid, to form an extraction mixture; and

said extraction mixture is incubated before addition of said ezetimibe.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein said providing tissue comprises providing said tissue as a freeze-dried powder.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said tissue of a transgenic plant comprises tissue of a tomato plant.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein said extraction mixture is incubated for at least about 15 minutes.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein said extraction mixture is incubated overnight.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide is effective to decrease plasma total cholesterol in a mammal, and/or to decrease plasma triglyceride in said mammal, and/or to decrease plasma 5-HETE in said mammal, and/or to decrease plasma 12-HETE in said mammal, and/or to decrease plasma 15-HETE in said mammal, and/or to decrease SAA levels in said mammal, and/or to increase plasma paraoxonase activity in said mammal, and/or to decrease plasma levels of lyophosphatidic acid (LPA) in a mammal when fed to said mammal alone or as a component of a food or diet.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma triglyceride, and/or raises plasma HDL cholesterol to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide; and/or

said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma 5-HETE to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide; and/or

said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma 12-HETE to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide; and/or

said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma 15-HETE to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide; and/or

said ezetimibe-associated apoA-I mimetic peptide, when fed to a mammal, lowers plasma SAA to a greater amount than a mixed ezetimibe apoA-I mimetic peptide formulation containing the same amounts of ezetimibe and apoA-I mimetic peptide.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein said incubating is for about 2 hrs.

25. The method of claim 1 , wherein said incubating is at room temperature.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein said apoA-I mimetic peptide is a peptide recombinantly expressed in a plant cell.