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Cholesterol-lowering effect of policosanol on rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia induced by a wheat starch-casein diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Roberto Menédez ,
Lourdes Arruzazabala ,
Rosa Más ,
Armando Del RíO ,
Ana M. Amor ,
Rosa M. GonzáLez ,
Daisy Carbajal ,
Vivian Fraga ,
Vivian Molina  and
José Illnait
Roberto Menédez
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Lourdes Arruzazabala
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Rosa Más
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Armando Del RíO
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Ana M. Amor
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Rosa M. GonzáLez
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Daisy Carbajal
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Vivian Fraga
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
Vivian Molina
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
José Illnait
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacology, Center of Natural Products, National Center for Scientific Research, PO Box 6880, Havana, Cuba
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Abstract

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The effect of policosanol, a mixture of high-molecular-weight aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugar-cane wax, on casein-induced hypercholesterolaemia in rabbits was studied. When policosanol was administered by the oral route once daily for 30 d (50mg/kg) the increases in plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDC-C) were significantly reduced when compared with the control group. The incorporation of 3H2O into sterols in the liver was significantly depressed, suggesting inhibition of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. The oral administration of policosanol raised the rate of removal of 125l-labelled LDL from serum. Kinetic parameters calculated following injection of [125I]LDL showed than in casein-fed rabbits, the terminal half-life (t½) was significantly decreased after policosanol treatment. The hepatic LDL-binding activity was increased after policosanol administration which suggested that the enhanced clearance was due, at least in part, to increased receptor-mediated uptake of LDL by the liver. Considered together, these results suggest that policosanol can significantly reduce the increase of plasma LDL-C in rabbits fed on a wheat starch-casein diet by reducing cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. Such an effect could account for the enhancement of LDL catabolism through the receptor-mediated pathway.

Keywords

PolicosanolHypercholesterolaemiaCholesterol biosynthesisLDL
Type
General Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 77 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 923 - 932
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1997

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