title: Cholesterol-lowering effects of policosanol in rabbits.
abstract: Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher primary aliphatic alcohols isolated and purified from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum, L.) wax, whose main component is octacosanol. Policosanol (5-200 mg/kg) orally administered for 4 weeks to normocholesterolemic New Zealand rabbits significantly reduced total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) serum levels in a dose dependent manner. Serum triglyceride levels of treated and control animals were significantly different, but the reduction observed was not dose-dependent. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels remained unchanged. Results indicate that the reduction in total cholesterol values induced by policosanol is mainly mediated through a decrease in LDL-C levels.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Arruzazabala
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carbajal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valdes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laguna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D014280:Triglycerides; C080710:policosanol; D002784:Cholesterol