EFFECT OF POLICOSANOL ON ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE IN RATS - STUDY OF THE PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERACTION WITH NIFEDIPINE AND PROPRANOLOL

Background: Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher aliphatic prima ry alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax (Saccharum officinarum, L) wi th cholesterol-lowering effects demonstrated in experimental models an d in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinemia. The purpose of this s tudy is to determine the effect of policosanol on arterial blood press ure and its interaction with propranolol and nifedipine. Methods: Sing le doses of policosanol (25, 50 and 200 mg/kg) orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) did not significantly change art erial pressure. Results: The study on pharmacological interactions bet ween policosanol (200 mg/kg) and both antihypertensive agents revealed that pretreatment with high doses of policosanol significantly increa sed propranolol-induced hypotensive effects, while the effects of nife dipine remained unchanged. Conclusions: Our results show that policosa nol does not antagonize the hypotensive effect of beta-blockers but it can increase the hypotensive effect of beta-blockers without modifyin g cardiac frequency.