EFFECT OF POLICOSANOL ON LIPOFUNDIN-INDUCED ATHEROSCLEROTIC LESIONS IN RATS

Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic alcohols isolated from su gar cane wax, showing cholesterol-lowering effects and preventing the development of lipofundin-induced lesions in New Zealand rabbits. This study was conducted to determine whether policosanol orally administe red to rats also protects against the development of lipofundin-induce d atherosclerotic lesions. Fifty four male Wistar rats were randomly d istributed amongst a negative control group, a positive control group intravenously injected with lipofundin for eight days, and four experi mental groups also injected with lipofundin, but orally receiving poli cosanol at 0.5, 2.5, 5 and 25 mg kg(-1) respectively. Policosanol trea tment was orally administered once-a-day for eight days, while control groups similarly received equivalent amounts of vehicle. A significan t reduction of the atherosclerotic lesions in the treated animals was observed. It is concluded that policosanol has a protective effect on lipofundin-induced aortic lesions in Wistar rats.