Phytosterols can be of value in decreasing cardiovascular risk of coronary heart disease. β-Sitosterol was the most abundant sterol in the three oils studied (sunflower, olive and '4 oil mixture'). The total phytosterol level was the highest in the '4 oil mixture' compared with the other oils studied. Tests performed on the effect of aging (heating at 50 • C for several weeks and at 100 • C for 1 h) did not show any significant variation in the phytosterol content. In contrast, heating at 200 • C for 1 h led to a 50-60% decrease of phytosterol in the oils studied and in the standard solutions.

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1,4-Dihydropyridine (DHP), an important class of calcium antagonist, inhibits the influx of extracellular Ca+2through L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. Three-dimensional (3D) structure of calcium channel as a receptor for 1,4-dihydropyridine is a step in understanding its mode of action. Protein structure prediction and modeling tools are becoming integral parts of the standard toolkit in biological and biomedical research. So, homology modeling (HM) of calcium channel alpha-1C subunit as DHP receptor model was achieved. The 3D structure of potassium channel was used as template for HM process. The resulted dihydropyridine receptor model was checked by different means to assure stereochemical quality and structural integrity of the model. This model was achieved in an attempt to understand the mode of action of DHP calcium channel antagonist and in further computer-aided drug design (CADD) analysis. Also the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of DHPs as antihypertensive and antianginal agents was reviewed, summarized, and discussed.

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