In vitro mutagenic evaluation of policosanol.

Authors

  • National Center for Scientific Research
  • National Center for Scientific Research
  • National Center for Scientific Research

Abstract

Policosanol is a well defined mixture of long chain aliphatic
alcohols isolated and purified from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) wax.
Policosanol has cholesterol lowering effects in animal models, healthy volunteers
and hypercholesterolemic patients. Its introduction in clinical practice was
supported by toxicological studies showing absence of toxicity after acute, sub
chronic and chronic treatments. When genotoxicological evaluation was
initiated, gene mutation induction was studied by Ames test. Then, no point
mutations were induced by policosanol on Salmonella typhimurium at dose
levels from 5 to 2 000 mg/plate. However as higher doses should be researched,
a second trial using five strains was performed and its results are presented in
this paper. Additionally, different genetic end points were studied, evaluating
cytogenetic damage on human lymphocyte in vitro. Negative results were also
obtained, no increases of micronuclei or sister chromatid exchanges were
observed after treatment of lymphocyte cultures. These results corroborate
previous negative findings on mutagenicity of policosanol.

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Published

2021-11-11

How to Cite

Fernández Rodríguez, S. I. ., Alfonso, J. L. ., & Acosta, P. C. . (2021). In vitro mutagenic evaluation of policosanol. NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (CENIC) BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL, 37(1), 009-012. Retrieved from https://revista.cnic.edu.cu/index.php/RevBiol/article/view/1118

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Research articles