Polycosanol; Policosanol
COMPOSITION & EXTRACTION METHOD
Updated on May 8, 2006 Email Zhion@zhion.com
COMPOSITION & EXTRACTION METHOD
Updated on May 8, 2006 Email Zhion@zhion.com
Polycosanol is believed to decrease total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and increase
high-density lipoprotein by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and increasing LDL processing.
Polycosanol is also believed to be able to prevent the onset of spontaneously- and
experimentally-induced atherosclerotic lesions and cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Fraga V
et al, Arch Med Res. 1997 Autumn; 28 (3): 355-60].
However, recently one research group from Unilever Health Institute, The Netherlands, has
reported that wheat germ polycosanol / policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects
with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations.
POLYCOSANOL COMPOSITION IS IMPORTANT FOR ITS HEALTH BENEFITS.
Their wheat polycosanol extract contains more long chain alcohols, compared to the regular sugar
cane polycosanol:
Patent ** Wheat Polycosanol*
1-tetracosanol 0.5-1%
1-hexacosanol 5.5-8.5% 8%
1-heptacosanol 2-3.5%
1-octacosanol 60-70% 67%
1-nonacosanol 0.4-1.2%
1-triacontanol 2-3.5% 12%
1-dotriacontanol 4-6%
1-tetratriacontanol 0.4-2%
Other long-chain alcohols 13%
*Lin Y et al, Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to
midly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Metabolism. 2004 oct;53(10):1309-14.
**Claim of Patent [# 5663156] filed by the Cuban researchers.
SUGAR CANE POLYCOSANOL EXTRACTION METHOD
The extraction method is also important to the polycosanol composition. Here is one example****
that the Cuban researchers used to extract polycosanol from the sugar cane:
1. Melt 1000 g of sugar cane wax.
2. Add potassium hydroxide solution to the wax; stir.
3. Extract the "crude" polycosanols from the solid obtained in a solid-liquid extraction system using
heptane.
5. Cool the "crude" polycosanol extract.
6. Recrystalize the MHPAA in methylethylketone.
You should obtain about 285 g of polycosanol. The melting point for this polycosanol is about 81.5C.
****Example 1 of Patent 5663156.
Different extraction method will also lead to different ratios of alcohols in the
polycosanol final product.
_________________________________________________________________
DISCOVERING POLICOSANOL(POLYCOSANOL)
Using sugar cane wax to lower lipid in rats and mice was demonstrated in 1984. Fukuda, Effect of
sugar cane wax on serum liver lipids on rats; Chemical Abstracts, 106, 17, 137413p and Sho H. et
al, Effects of Okinawan sugar cane wax and fatty alcohols on serum and liver lipids in the rates, J.
Nutri. Vitaminol 30 (6) 553-559.
Octacosanol (a polycosanol) isolated from sugar cane wax was shown to reduce both triglycerides
and cholesterol levels in the liver. Shimura S. et al, Studies on the effect of octacosanol on the
motor endurance in mice; Nutrition Reports Int. 198736, 1029-1038.
In 1987, high doses of hexacosanol (another polycosanol/policosanol) was shown to be able to
achieve antilipaemic effects. Hagiwara Y. Antilipaemic agents containing hexacosanol used to treat
hypertension, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and obesity 1987. JP A 62 099323.
In 1994, Cuban researchers reported that polycosanol (policosanol) inhibited the cholesterol
synthesis at the early steps of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway from a study using human lung
fibroblasts. This group of researchers filed the first patent of mixture compositions for policosanol
(polycosanol):In 1996, this group filed their second patent on policosanol (polycosanol).
Mixture of higher primary aliphatic alcohols, its obtention from sugar cane wax and its
pharmaceutical uses, patent# 5663156. Patent # 5856316 [Biol Res. 1994;27(3-4):199-203]
In 1996, the Cuban researchers reported that oral administration of polycosanol (policosanol) could
inhibit hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis in rats. [Biol Res. 1996;29(2):253-7]
In 1998 and 1999, Sorkin Jr., and Harlan Lee (IL) filed a patent on composition containing
phytosterol and polycosanol / policosanol to reduce serum cholesterol levels. Composition for
reducing serum cholesterol levels, Patents # 5952393 and 6197832.
In 2001, the Cuban researchers transferred fibroblast to a lipid-depleted medium (LDM) to
up-regulate the enzyme level and accelerate cholesterol sysnthesis. They found, addition of
polycosanol retarded the cholesterol synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. They
concluded that polycosanol (policosanol)exerted its effect on HMG-CoA reductase. [Arch Med Res.
2001 Jan-Feb;32(1):8-12]
Other researchers conducted clinical trials on polycosanol (policosanol) and demonstrated
polycosanol (policosanol) is an effective cholesterol-lowering agent in most cases. McCarty MF,
NutriGuard Research, CA, even combined a tablet of polycosanol (policosanol) and ezetimibe to
reduce LDL cholesterol by about 40%, without side effects. [Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):636-45].
MORE STUDIES
Polycosanol (policosanol) is a cholesterol-lowering agent* purified from sugarcane wax. Polycosanol
(policosanol) has been shown to decrease the risk of atheroma formation in animals, lower total
cholesterol level by 13-23%, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 19-31%, and
increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol from 8 to 29%. Their cholesterol-lowering ability
is thought by reducing hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis while enhancing LDL clearance.
Compared to statins, polycosanol (policosanol) exhibits comparable cholesterol-lowering effects and
it is well tolerated in animals. Researchers suggested that policosanols could be a promising
resource in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Other researchers ran ran
a pilot biostudy using patients with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus to compare the effects
of polycosanol (policosanol) and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation. They found
polycosanol (policosanol)(10 mg/day) was even slightly more effective than lovastatin (20 mg/day)
in reducing the LDL-C/HDL-C and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratios, in increasing HDL-C levels and in
preventing LDL oxidation.
ERGOGENIC PROPERTIES
Kim H, et al evaluated the effects of polycosanol on running performance and related biochemical
parameters in exercise-trained rats run to exhaustion on a treadmill. They found that
polycosanol-supplemented group ran significantly longer until exhausted. They concluded that the
ergogenic properties of polycosanol include the sparing of muscle glycogen stores and increases in
the oxidative capacity in the muscle of exercise-trained rats. Octacosanol supplementation
increases running endurance time and improves biochemical parameters after exhaustion in trained
rats., J Med Food. 2003 Winter;6(4):345-51.
Bai S et al, found that polycosanol elevated the weight of thymus, improved biomechanical
properties of the femur and improved membrane fluidity of red blood cell from a study using rats.
Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 1997 Dec;10(6):450-2.
POLYCOSANOL VS BESAFIBRATE
Nikitin IuP et al, compared efficacy and tolerance of polycosanol vs besafibrate in patients with
hypercholesterolemia (HCE). The study was a multicenter controlled double blind randomised trial
entered 113 patients with HCE. After 5 weeks of diet the patients were randomised into two groups.
59 patients of group 1 received polycosanol (10 mg/day), 54 patients of group 2 were given
besafibrate (400 mg/day) for 8 weeks. After 8-week course of treatment, they found total
cholesterol diminished by an average of 15%, LDLP cholesterol fell by 18%, triglycerides by 15% in
group 1 (polycosanol) and decrease by 8, 11 and 6% in group 2 (besafibrate). The side effects in
group 1 (polycosanol) were mild. They consequently concluded that the hypolipidemic effect of
polycosanol in a daily dose of 10 mg is superior to that of besafibrate in a daily dose of 400 mg.
Results of the multicenter controlled study of the hypolipidemic drug polycosanol in Russia Ter
Arkh. 2000;72(12):7-10.
high-density lipoprotein by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and increasing LDL processing.
Polycosanol is also believed to be able to prevent the onset of spontaneously- and
experimentally-induced atherosclerotic lesions and cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Fraga V
et al, Arch Med Res. 1997 Autumn; 28 (3): 355-60].
However, recently one research group from Unilever Health Institute, The Netherlands, has
reported that wheat germ polycosanol / policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects
with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations.
POLYCOSANOL COMPOSITION IS IMPORTANT FOR ITS HEALTH BENEFITS.
Their wheat polycosanol extract contains more long chain alcohols, compared to the regular sugar
cane polycosanol:
Patent ** Wheat Polycosanol*
1-tetracosanol 0.5-1%
1-hexacosanol 5.5-8.5% 8%
1-heptacosanol 2-3.5%
1-octacosanol 60-70% 67%
1-nonacosanol 0.4-1.2%
1-triacontanol 2-3.5% 12%
1-dotriacontanol 4-6%
1-tetratriacontanol 0.4-2%
Other long-chain alcohols 13%
*Lin Y et al, Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to
midly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Metabolism. 2004 oct;53(10):1309-14.
**Claim of Patent [# 5663156] filed by the Cuban researchers.
SUGAR CANE POLYCOSANOL EXTRACTION METHOD
The extraction method is also important to the polycosanol composition. Here is one example****
that the Cuban researchers used to extract polycosanol from the sugar cane:
1. Melt 1000 g of sugar cane wax.
2. Add potassium hydroxide solution to the wax; stir.
3. Extract the "crude" polycosanols from the solid obtained in a solid-liquid extraction system using
heptane.
5. Cool the "crude" polycosanol extract.
6. Recrystalize the MHPAA in methylethylketone.
You should obtain about 285 g of polycosanol. The melting point for this polycosanol is about 81.5C.
****Example 1 of Patent 5663156.
Different extraction method will also lead to different ratios of alcohols in the
polycosanol final product.
_________________________________________________________________
DISCOVERING POLICOSANOL(POLYCOSANOL)
Using sugar cane wax to lower lipid in rats and mice was demonstrated in 1984. Fukuda, Effect of
sugar cane wax on serum liver lipids on rats; Chemical Abstracts, 106, 17, 137413p and Sho H. et
al, Effects of Okinawan sugar cane wax and fatty alcohols on serum and liver lipids in the rates, J.
Nutri. Vitaminol 30 (6) 553-559.
Octacosanol (a polycosanol) isolated from sugar cane wax was shown to reduce both triglycerides
and cholesterol levels in the liver. Shimura S. et al, Studies on the effect of octacosanol on the
motor endurance in mice; Nutrition Reports Int. 198736, 1029-1038.
In 1987, high doses of hexacosanol (another polycosanol/policosanol) was shown to be able to
achieve antilipaemic effects. Hagiwara Y. Antilipaemic agents containing hexacosanol used to treat
hypertension, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, heart disease and obesity 1987. JP A 62 099323.
In 1994, Cuban researchers reported that polycosanol (policosanol) inhibited the cholesterol
synthesis at the early steps of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway from a study using human lung
fibroblasts. This group of researchers filed the first patent of mixture compositions for policosanol
(polycosanol):In 1996, this group filed their second patent on policosanol (polycosanol).
Mixture of higher primary aliphatic alcohols, its obtention from sugar cane wax and its
pharmaceutical uses, patent# 5663156. Patent # 5856316 [Biol Res. 1994;27(3-4):199-203]
In 1996, the Cuban researchers reported that oral administration of polycosanol (policosanol) could
inhibit hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis in rats. [Biol Res. 1996;29(2):253-7]
In 1998 and 1999, Sorkin Jr., and Harlan Lee (IL) filed a patent on composition containing
phytosterol and polycosanol / policosanol to reduce serum cholesterol levels. Composition for
reducing serum cholesterol levels, Patents # 5952393 and 6197832.
In 2001, the Cuban researchers transferred fibroblast to a lipid-depleted medium (LDM) to
up-regulate the enzyme level and accelerate cholesterol sysnthesis. They found, addition of
polycosanol retarded the cholesterol synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. They
concluded that polycosanol (policosanol)exerted its effect on HMG-CoA reductase. [Arch Med Res.
2001 Jan-Feb;32(1):8-12]
Other researchers conducted clinical trials on polycosanol (policosanol) and demonstrated
polycosanol (policosanol) is an effective cholesterol-lowering agent in most cases. McCarty MF,
NutriGuard Research, CA, even combined a tablet of polycosanol (policosanol) and ezetimibe to
reduce LDL cholesterol by about 40%, without side effects. [Med Hypotheses. 2005;64(3):636-45].
MORE STUDIES
Polycosanol (policosanol) is a cholesterol-lowering agent* purified from sugarcane wax. Polycosanol
(policosanol) has been shown to decrease the risk of atheroma formation in animals, lower total
cholesterol level by 13-23%, lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 19-31%, and
increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol from 8 to 29%. Their cholesterol-lowering ability
is thought by reducing hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis while enhancing LDL clearance.
Compared to statins, polycosanol (policosanol) exhibits comparable cholesterol-lowering effects and
it is well tolerated in animals. Researchers suggested that policosanols could be a promising
resource in the prevention and therapy of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Other researchers ran ran
a pilot biostudy using patients with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus to compare the effects
of polycosanol (policosanol) and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation. They found
polycosanol (policosanol)(10 mg/day) was even slightly more effective than lovastatin (20 mg/day)
in reducing the LDL-C/HDL-C and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratios, in increasing HDL-C levels and in
preventing LDL oxidation.
ERGOGENIC PROPERTIES
Kim H, et al evaluated the effects of polycosanol on running performance and related biochemical
parameters in exercise-trained rats run to exhaustion on a treadmill. They found that
polycosanol-supplemented group ran significantly longer until exhausted. They concluded that the
ergogenic properties of polycosanol include the sparing of muscle glycogen stores and increases in
the oxidative capacity in the muscle of exercise-trained rats. Octacosanol supplementation
increases running endurance time and improves biochemical parameters after exhaustion in trained
rats., J Med Food. 2003 Winter;6(4):345-51.
Bai S et al, found that polycosanol elevated the weight of thymus, improved biomechanical
properties of the femur and improved membrane fluidity of red blood cell from a study using rats.
Space Med Med Eng (Beijing). 1997 Dec;10(6):450-2.
POLYCOSANOL VS BESAFIBRATE
Nikitin IuP et al, compared efficacy and tolerance of polycosanol vs besafibrate in patients with
hypercholesterolemia (HCE). The study was a multicenter controlled double blind randomised trial
entered 113 patients with HCE. After 5 weeks of diet the patients were randomised into two groups.
59 patients of group 1 received polycosanol (10 mg/day), 54 patients of group 2 were given
besafibrate (400 mg/day) for 8 weeks. After 8-week course of treatment, they found total
cholesterol diminished by an average of 15%, LDLP cholesterol fell by 18%, triglycerides by 15% in
group 1 (polycosanol) and decrease by 8, 11 and 6% in group 2 (besafibrate). The side effects in
group 1 (polycosanol) were mild. They consequently concluded that the hypolipidemic effect of
polycosanol in a daily dose of 10 mg is superior to that of besafibrate in a daily dose of 400 mg.
Results of the multicenter controlled study of the hypolipidemic drug polycosanol in Russia Ter
Arkh. 2000;72(12):7-10.
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PHYTONUTRIENTS AND DRUG PRODUCTS. THIS WEBSITE ALSO TALKS ABOUT SOME POPULAR HEALTH ISSUES AND DISEASES.
ARTICLES IN THIS WEB SITE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR
DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2008. DO NOT COPY NOR TRANSFER ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES NOR OTHER
FORMS OF PUBLICATIONS. Privacy Policy. ARTICLE INDEX
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