Extract from the resin of the protium heptaphyllum plant, formulations comprising such extract and hydroalcoholic extraction process at controlled pressure and temperature

The invention relates to a hydroalcoholic extract from the resin of the Protium heptaphyllum plant enriched for the acid triterpene component. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical formulations comprising the aforesaid extract. The invention also relates to a hydroalcoholic extraction process at controlled pressure and temperature of the aforesaid extract. The present invention finds advantageous applications in the inhibition of the gene expression of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, in the alteration of the gene expression in liver cells, in the alteration of the gene expression of key factors involved in the lipid metabolism and in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, the hydroalcoholic extraction process according to the present invention is economically and qualitatively more advantageous than the known solutions thanks to the use of simple and inexpensive equipment as well as of solvents (water and ethanol) non-toxic or anyway widely used at the food level and more environmentally friendly.