{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,14]],"date-time":"2025-10-14T18:12:59Z","timestamp":1760465579842,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,14]],"date-time":"2025-10-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760400000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"\nBackground<\/jats:title>\nCholesterol gallstones represent a significant global health burden. Current treatments, including surgery and oral dissolution agents, are often invasive or limited by side effects and variable efficacy. This study investigated the in vitro gallstone-dissolving efficacy of a natural combination\u2014sesame oil (SO), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), psyllium extract (PE), and dandelion extract (DE)\u2014compared to the pharmaceutical agent Rowachol\u00ae.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nMethods<\/jats:title>\nIn a randomized in vitro study, seventy cholesterol-dominant human gallstones were assigned to seven groups receiving either individual agents, multi-component combinations, or Rowachol\u00ae (control). Two prespecified endpoints were assessed under standardized simulated bile conditions at 48\u2009h (T1), 96\u2009h (T2), and 144\u2009h (T3): dissolution rate (DR, %; weight loss) and cumulative cholesterol release (mg). Statistical analyses compared groups across time and explored potential multi-component interactions.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nResults<\/jats:title>\nThe four-component regimen (G6: PE\u2009+\u2009DE+SO+EVOO) showed the greatest efficacy at T3, achieving DR\u2009=\u200992.57%\u2009\u00b1\u20094.2 and cholesterol release\u2009=\u2009114.48\u2009\u00b1\u20094.2\u2009mg, significantly exceeding Rowachol\u00ae (39.71%\u2009\u00b1\u20091.9; 42.57\u2009\u00b1\u20091.9\u2009mg; p\u2009<\u20090.001) and all other groups. Effects were time-dependent, with progressive separation from T1 to T3. Key bioactive compounds\u2014oleic acid, taraxacin, arabinoxylan, and linoleic acid\u2014showed strong positive correlations with dissolution outcomes (r\u2009=\u2009+0.76 to +0.94). A regression model identified these compounds as primary efficacy predictors, accounting for 94% of the observed variance (adjusted R\u00b2\u2009=\u20090.94).<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>\n\nConclusions<\/jats:title>\nUnder short-term, controlled in vitro conditions, the SO+EVOO+PE\u2009+\u2009DE combination achieved a\u2009~\u20092.3-fold higher dissolution rate than Rowachol\u00ae at 144\u2009h. These findings constitute mechanistic, hypothesis-generating evidence that clarifies how dissolution may be enhanced ex vivo. Confirmation in well-designed in-vivo models\u2014followed by clinical studies to evaluate safety, dosing, and effectiveness\u2014is required before any patient-care application.<\/jats:p>\n<\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0334496","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,14]],"date-time":"2025-10-14T17:31:32Z","timestamp":1760463092000},"page":"e0334496","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Synergistic effects of sesame oil, extra virgin olive oil, psyllium extract, and dandelion extract on cholesterol gallstone dissolution: An in vitro comparative study against 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