Abstract:Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax, whose main component is octacosanol. An inhibitory effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation and cerebral ischemia in animal models has been reported. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of policosanol on cerebral ischemia induced by unilateral carotid ligation and bilateral clamping and recirculation in Mongolian gerbils. Policosanol (200 mg/kg) administered immediately after unilate… Show more
“…No demonstration of the mechanisms of the antiplatelet effects of policosanol is available, but they involve a simultaneous decrease of TxA 2 and increase of prostacyclin concentrations rather than an inhibition of COX 2 activity [13,15], being logical to expect a greater antiplatelet efficacy of poli + AS over pla + AS therapy. We also found that poli + AS reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 16.7% (week 12) and 25.5% (week 24) as compared to pla + AS, and that also had benefits on total cholesterol and HDL-C.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Policosanol, a mixture of 8 high molecular weight sugarcane wax alcohols, has reduced platelet aggregation in experimental and clinical studies [9][10][11][12][13]. Also, policosanol has shown protective effects in experimental brain ischemia models, and to increase the antiplatelet/antithrombotic effects of AS [14,15], and long-term administered prevented the progression of carotid-vertebral atherosclerosis in humans [16].…”
Background. Antiplatelet therapy lowers the risk of recurrent stroke. Policosanol, a mixture of 8 high molecular weight sugar cane wax alcohols, has shown to reduce platelet aggregation. Objectives. To investigate whether the therapy with policosanol plus aspirin (AS) could improve the neurological outcome as compared to placebo + AS in patients with a recent ischemic stroke. Methods. Ninety-two (92) patients with a modified Rankin Scale score (mRSs) ≥2 -≤4 after suffering an ischemic stroke within 30 days before enrollment were randomized to placebo or policosanol (20 mg/day) + AS (125 mg/day) (pla + AS or poli + AS) for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was to obtain a better stroke outcome (mRSs ≤1) as compared to pla +AS. Reduction of platelet aggregation was a secondary variable. Results. After 12 and 24 weeks on therapy, the rates of patients treated with poli + AS (10/46, 21.7% and 32/46, 69.6%, respectively) who achieved mRSs ≤1 were significantly (p0.01 and p0.0001, respectively) greater than those treated with pla + AS (0/46, 0.0% and 7/46, 15.2%, respectively). Poli + AS treatment given for 6 weeks reduced significantly (p0.00001 vs baseline, p0.01 vs pla + AS) the mean mRSs value (24.1%), and this effect improved thereafter, so that it was reduced by 31.0% and 55.2% after 12 and 24 weeks on therapy, respectively. Poli + AS treatment also reduced significantly arachidonic acid-and adenosine diphosphateinduced platelet aggregation by 41.0% and 24.8%, respectively. Treatments were well tolerated. There were not withdrawals due to adverse experiences. Conclusions. In patients with recent ischemic stroke, poli + AS treatment improved the neurological recovery and decreased platelet aggregation as compared to pla + AS.
“…No demonstration of the mechanisms of the antiplatelet effects of policosanol is available, but they involve a simultaneous decrease of TxA 2 and increase of prostacyclin concentrations rather than an inhibition of COX 2 activity [13,15], being logical to expect a greater antiplatelet efficacy of poli + AS over pla + AS therapy. We also found that poli + AS reduced low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) by 16.7% (week 12) and 25.5% (week 24) as compared to pla + AS, and that also had benefits on total cholesterol and HDL-C.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Policosanol, a mixture of 8 high molecular weight sugarcane wax alcohols, has reduced platelet aggregation in experimental and clinical studies [9][10][11][12][13]. Also, policosanol has shown protective effects in experimental brain ischemia models, and to increase the antiplatelet/antithrombotic effects of AS [14,15], and long-term administered prevented the progression of carotid-vertebral atherosclerosis in humans [16].…”
Background. Antiplatelet therapy lowers the risk of recurrent stroke. Policosanol, a mixture of 8 high molecular weight sugar cane wax alcohols, has shown to reduce platelet aggregation. Objectives. To investigate whether the therapy with policosanol plus aspirin (AS) could improve the neurological outcome as compared to placebo + AS in patients with a recent ischemic stroke. Methods. Ninety-two (92) patients with a modified Rankin Scale score (mRSs) ≥2 -≤4 after suffering an ischemic stroke within 30 days before enrollment were randomized to placebo or policosanol (20 mg/day) + AS (125 mg/day) (pla + AS or poli + AS) for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was to obtain a better stroke outcome (mRSs ≤1) as compared to pla +AS. Reduction of platelet aggregation was a secondary variable. Results. After 12 and 24 weeks on therapy, the rates of patients treated with poli + AS (10/46, 21.7% and 32/46, 69.6%, respectively) who achieved mRSs ≤1 were significantly (p0.01 and p0.0001, respectively) greater than those treated with pla + AS (0/46, 0.0% and 7/46, 15.2%, respectively). Poli + AS treatment given for 6 weeks reduced significantly (p0.00001 vs baseline, p0.01 vs pla + AS) the mean mRSs value (24.1%), and this effect improved thereafter, so that it was reduced by 31.0% and 55.2% after 12 and 24 weeks on therapy, respectively. Poli + AS treatment also reduced significantly arachidonic acid-and adenosine diphosphateinduced platelet aggregation by 41.0% and 24.8%, respectively. Treatments were well tolerated. There were not withdrawals due to adverse experiences. Conclusions. In patients with recent ischemic stroke, poli + AS treatment improved the neurological recovery and decreased platelet aggregation as compared to pla + AS.
“…In addition, a few short-term studies indicated that the cholesterol-lowering effect of policosanol was better than that of statins such as simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, probucol, or acipimox and with fewer side effects in patients with type II HC [27][28][29][30]. Prat et al [31], Crespo et al [32] and Noa et al [33] reported that policosanol reduces intermittent claudication [27,34], platelet aggregation [35,36], diastolic blood pressure [DBP] and systolic blood pressure [SBP] [37,38] in older patients with hypertension and type II HC and dyslipidemia in type 2 DM [27,39]; and cerebral ischemia in animals [40]. Policosanol decreased progression and increased regression of CVD as assessed by thallium-labeled myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (TL-MPS) and Doppler-ultrasound, and decreased symptoms of CVD [41][42][43].…”
Metabolic syndrome risk factors (MSRF) can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States and worldwide. Pathways leading directly from visceral adiposity to the genesis of free fatty acids and lipid accumulation are mediators of insulin resistance and hypertension. These conditions lead to a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state that can potentiate cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome risk factors are interrelated and associated with predisposition to diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia and, thus, ultimately can lead to CVD. In this review, the authors focused on seven research-supported nutrients available as dietary supplements that offer potential benefits for people with MSRF. For the past two decades, a number of studies have evaluated the role of nutritional supplementation in the prevention of atherogenic and abnormal glucose risk factors. It is, therefore, important to identify strategies that favorably impact MSRF and disease conditions. This review focuses on nutritional compounds such as policosanol, soy proteins, plant stanols, plant esters and isoflavones, omega-3 fatty acids and chromium. These ingredients can beneficially modulate MSRF and, thus, potentially improve disease risk factors and related sequelae. Although the benefits of dietary supplements in general have not been comprehensively elucidated or established, it seems plausible, given available data, that non-pharmacological compounds exhibit the ability to measurably reduce MSRF and, consequently, provide potential protection against CVD and its associated complications.
“…Additionally, Policosanol showed a protective effect on the myocardial necrosis induced by isoprenaline in a rat experimental model [34] . Results of another study proved an antiischemic effect of policosanol administered after induction of cerebral ischemia, in two different experimental models in Mongolian gerbils, suggesting a possible therapeutic effect in cerebral vascular disorders [35] . The effects of octacosanol mentioned above made a foundation for the present study design since the reaction mediated by reactive oxygen species was the common feature of those pathological changes including PD.…”
Aim: To investigate the protective effects of octacosanol in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinsonian rats and find whether octacosanol has effects on pro nerve growth factor (pro-NGF), NGF and the downstream effector proteins. Methods: Behavioral tests, enzymatic assay, tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, TUNEL and Western blot were used to investigate the effects of octacosanol in this rat model of PD. Results: Oral administration of octacosanol (35-70 mg/kg, po for 14 d) significantly improved the behavioral impairments in rats induced by 6-OHDA and dose-dependently preserved the free radical scavenging capability of the striatum. Octacosanol treatment also effectively ameliorated morphological appearances of TH-positive neuronal cells in nigrostriatal systems and decreased the apoptotic cells induced by 6-OHDA in striatum. In addition, octacosanol strikingly blocked the 6-OHDA-induced increased expression of proNGFp75NTR-sortilin death signaling complex and its downstream effector proteins. Meantime, octacosanol prevented the decreased levels of NGF, its receptors TrkA and p-Akt which together mediated the cell survival pathway. Conclusion: The findings implicated that the anti-parkinsonism effects afforded by octacosanol might be mediated by its neuro-microenvironment improving potency through retrieving the ratios of proNGF:NGF and the respective receptors p75NTR:TrkA in vivo. Due to its excellent tolerability and non-toxicity, octacosanol may be a promising agent for PD treatment.
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