Abstract
Background:
D-003 and policosanol (CAS 557-61-9), specific and distinct mixtures of high molecular
weight primary aliphatic acids and alcohols, respectively, have shown to inhibit lipid
peroxidation in vivo, but comparative studies between their effects on lipid peroxidation processes had
not been conducted before.
Objective:
To compare the effects of D-003 and policosanol on markers of lipid peroxidation in vivo in rats.
Methods:
Male Wistar rats were distributed into 9 groups: a control group treated with acacia
gum/water vehicle, 4 with policosanol and 4 with D-003, both treatments at 5, 25,
100 and 250 mg/kg. Treatments were administered during 4 weeks.
Results:
Both treatments significantly and dose-dependently reduced plasma malondyaldehide
(MDA) and total peroxides. Nevertheless, while D-003 was effective from 5 mg/kg, the
lowest effective dose of policosanol was 25 mg/kg. The maximal effects of both treatments
were obtained with 100 mg/kg, but greater in D-003 than in policosanol group, and
the same occurred across all doses tested. MDA concentrations generated with the enzymatic
system in liver homogenates were also significantly and dose-dependently inhibited
with both treatments. The lowest effective doses of D-003 and policosanol were 5 and
100 mg/kg, respectively, and the highest inhibitions of about 80% (D-003) and 11%
(policosanol). D-003 was more effective than policosanol in all comparisons. D-003
was also more effective than policosanol for lowering MDA concentrations generated
with the no enzymatic system, but in these conditions policosanol was effective from
25 mg/kg and produced an inhibition somewhat greater (about 29%) than on MDA-generated
by the enzymatic system. Both policosanol and D-003 did not modify the activity of
endogenous antioxidant enzymes compared with the controls.
Conclusions:
D-003 (5–250 mg/kg) orally administered for 4 weeks was more effective than policosanol
for lowering all the lipid peroxidation markers assessed, like plasma MDA and total
peroxides, and MDA concentrations generated by the enzymatic and non-enzymatic oxidant
systems of liver homogenates. The inhibitions with D-003 were marked and dose-dependent.
Neither D-003 nor policosanol modified the activity of enzymes involved in the endogenic
antioxidant defensive system.
Key words
Antioxidants - CAS 557-61-9 - D-003, effect on lipid peroxidation, rat - Fatty acids
mixture, very long chain - Lipid peroxidation - Policosanol, effect on lipid peroxidation,
rat
