ide reagent was added, and after 10 min the absorbance was read at 540 nm, using a saline arsenate solution similarly treated as blank. The 3 Effect of Bioactive 
Compounds of Tomato on HMGCR activity of HMGCR was estimated as the ratio between the absorbance readings of the HMGCoA and mevalonate test tubes. RNA extraction Total RNA was extracted and isolated from a frozen liver using GeneElute Mammalian Total RNA Miniprep Kit. The quantity and quality of RNA was assessed using a Picodrop Microliter UV/Vis Spectrophotometer. To eliminate possible trace amounts of genomic DNA in RNA preparations, the RNA was treated with DNaseI. RNA samples were used in the qPCR to assess the expression of HMGCR. software package and by calculating atomic partial charges using 14981513 the AMBER99 forcefield implemented in MOE. The HMGCR model was validated by docking of its cognate ligand and measuring the root mean square deviation of the docked ligand from its crystallographic position. The model revealed an RMSD,2A. Next, redocking of the lycopene ligand from the PDB structure 1LGH was performed, giving an RMSD ,2A was obtained. These redocking data indicated the appropriateness of Lead Finder for use in the molecular docking studies in our context. Statistical analyses For the analytical measurements of plasma, faeces and liver the analyses were conducted in triplicate and the data are expressed as mean 6 SD of the results obtained for the 6 animals of each intervention group. A “Student-t”test was applied to determine significant differences in all the TG-02 web analysed parameters. The statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS Program ver. 18.0. Quantitative Real Time PCR 2 mg of total RNA from each tissue sample were reverse transcribed into cDNA following the manufacturers instructions. Samples were used in the qPCR to assess the expression of HMGCR gene. The qPCR experiments were carried out using the 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR system. The TaqMan primers and probes and TaqManH Gene Expression Master mix were from Applied Biosystem. The qPCR data for the tissues was normalized relative to the abundance of a validated endogenous control rat b-actin from Applied. Reactions were allowed to proceed in a total volume of 20 mL using 9 mL of cDNA, 10 mL TaqMan Gene Expression Master Mix and 1 mL of TaqMan Gene Expression assay or TaqMan endogenous control. The mean sample threshold cycle and mean endogenous control CT for each sample were calculated from duplicate wells. The relative amount of target gene expression for each sample was 7473193 assessed using a DDCT method. In all experiments, appropriate negative controls containing no template cDNA were subjected to the sample procedure to exclude or detect any possible contamination, e.g. by genomic DNA. Results Molecular Modelling In order to study interactions at molecular level between human HMGCR and the main bioactive compounds of tomato juice, docking simulations were performed, since their predictions can reveal useful information about the presence or absence of protein-ligand interactions and about how these interactions are established, and concerning which residues of the protein are involved. In order to compare the interaction between these bioactive compounds and the enzyme HMGCR, and the binding capacity to the enzyme of the statins drugs, cerivastatin was included in the docking simulations. The docking of lycopene, chlorogenic acid and naringenin to the prepared model of HMGCR and detailed binding energy calculat