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.