[Analysis of free cholesterol levels in human serum using holotoxin A1]

Triterpene glycosides from holothurians holotoxin A1, stichoposides C and D were used for assay of blood serum free cholesterol instead of digitonin. Blood serum lipids were extracted by a mixture of acetone-ethanol (1:1). Free cholesterol was precipitated from the extract after addition of the glycosides and analyzed in reactions with acetic anhydride, acetic and sulfuric acids. These results were compared with the data of an enzymatic test for estimation of free cholesterol. Holotoxin A1 from Stichopus japonicus enabled to obtain results similar to those demonstrated with digitonin (r = 0.98). Holotoxin A1 may be used instead of digitonin in clinical practice for assay of free cholesterol content in blood serum.