New Insight on a Combination of Policosanol and 10-Dehydrogingerdione Phytochemicals as Inhibitors for Platelet Activation Biomarkers and Atherogenicity Risk in Dyslipidemic Rabbits: Role of CETP and PCSK9 Inhibition Mohamed Mahmoud Elseweidy 1 & Rawia sarhan Amin 1 & Hebatallah Husseini Atteia 1 & Reham Raafat El-Zeiky 1 & Naif A. Al-Gabri 2,3 Received: 17 February 2018 /Accepted: 30 April 2018 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Platelet markers [soluble p selectin (sP-selectin) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L)] are associated with platelet activation and cardiovascular risk. Both policosanol and 10-dehydrogingerdione are natural products with proven CETP inhibitory and antiatherogenic effects. Present work aimed mainly to investigate the levels of platelet activation biomarkers in the serum of dyslipidemic rabbits and the potential of these phyto- chemicals either alone or in a combination form to protect against atherogenicity. Additionally, this work clarified their effect on PCSK9, a key player in atherosclerosis progression. Daily administration of policosanol and/or 10-dehydrogingerdione at a dose level 10 mg/kg bw resulted in a CETP inhibitory activity, increasing HDL-C level. This protective effect was associated with improvement in lipid profile components and a reduction in PCSK9 level. Interestingly, this combination strengthened the CETP inhibitory activity of these phytochem- icals, leading to a greater increase in serum HDL-C level than monotherapy. However, this combination did not enhance the reduction in PCSK9 level. Both drugs also decreased platelet Appl Biochem Biotechnol https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-018-2776-5 * Mohamed Mahmoud Elseweidy mmelseweidy@yahoo.com 1 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Gov. 44519, Egypt 2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia Gov. 44519, Egypt 3 Veterinary Medicine Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Thamar University, Dhamar, Yemen