Claims for Patent: 3,862,332

Summary for Patent: 3,862,332

Title:	METHOD OF LOWERING SERUM CHOLESTEROL
Abstract:	Methods useful for lowering serum cholesterol in animals comprising administration to the animal of a hypocholesteremic amount of a bis(dialkylphenol) ketone mercaptole compound or a bis(dialkylphenol) mercaptal compound, preferably bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetone mercaptole, and compositions to be employed in practicing the method.
Inventor(s):	Barnhart; James W. (Indianapolis, IN), Shea; Philip J. (Zionsville, IN)
Assignee:	The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI)
Application Number:	04/878,256
Patent Claims:	1. A method for lowering serum cholesterol levels in animals comprising administering to an animal a hypocholesteremic amount of a compound corresponding to the formula ##SPC2## wherein R in each occurrence thereof independently represents loweralkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, inclusive, R.sub.1 represents methyl, and R.sub.2 represents methyl or ethyl. 2. The method of claim 2 wherein R represents tertiary butyl. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is administered orally. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetone mercaptole. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) butanone mercaptole. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is bis(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-isopropylphenyl) acetone mercaptole. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is bis(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl) acetone mercaptole. 8. A composition for lowering serum cholesterol levels in animals comprising a pharmaceutical carrier having incorporated therein from about 0.02 to about 90 percent by weight of a compound corresponding to the formula ##SPC3## wherein R in each occurrence thereof independently represents loweralkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, inclusive, R.sub.1 represents methyl, and R.sub.2 represents methyl or ethyl. 9. The composition of claim 8 further comprising a surface active dispersing agent. 10. The composition of claim 8 wherein the compound is bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetone mercaptole. 11. A composition for lowering serum cholesterol levels in animals, said composition being in dosage unit form adapted for administration to animals, each dosage unit containing from about 100 milligrams to about 5 grams per unit of a substituted ketone mercaptole compound corresponding to the formula ##SPC4## wherein R in each occurrence thereof independently represents loweralkyl of from one to four carbon atoms, inclusive, R.sub.1 represents methyl, and R.sub.2 represents methyl or ethyl, incorporated in a pharmaceutical carrier. 12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the dosage unit is in a form adapted for oral administration to animals. 13. The composition of claim 12 wherein R.sub.2 represents methyl. 14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the compound is bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) acetone mercaptole. 15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the dosage unit is in a form adapted for oral administration to animals. 16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the pharmaceutical carrier comprises a surface-active dispersing agent.