Cholesterol-lowering effects of policosanol in rabbits.
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.
Arruzazabala
M L
ML
Departamento de Farmacología, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas, La Habana, Cuba.
Carbajal
D
D
Mas
R
R
Molina
V
V
Valdes
S
S
Laguna
A
A
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
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D014280:Triglycerides; C080710:policosanol; D002784:Cholesterol