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.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
PLEASE, CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006
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.
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
PLEASE, CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2006
