Egyptian Sugar Cane Wax: Therapeutic Significance of a New Lipid-Lowering Agent in Rat

Data from the epidemiological studies indicate that increases in serum cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of death from coronary heart disease. Policosanol is a mixture of high-molecular-mass aliphatic alchohols isolated and purified from sugar cane (Saccharum Officinarum L.). Policosanol is a drug currently in use to reduce elevated LDL- C and total cholesterol levels in combination with dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. In the present study, Egyptian sugar cane wax was extracted, its polycosanols were determined qualitatively and quantitatively with GC-MS and GC and evaluated for its potency to reduce hypercholesterolemia in rat. The results showed that polycosanol constitutes 3.25% of wax. Octacosanol (C28OH) is the major component, amounting to 85% of Policosanols in wax. An intervention study was adopted to evaluate the effect of polycosanols on the cholesterol levels. 30 male albino rats were divided into five groups of equal mean body weights. The first group of rats was fed on basal diet (control). The second group was fed on basal diet containing 1% cholesterol. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were fed on basal diet containing 1% cholesterol and sugar cane wax extract (15, 45 and 100 mg per kg diet, respectively). Total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant increase (p 0.05) in hypercholesterolemic group compared to control. Supple-mentation of sugar cane wax extract in diets of both groups 4 and 5 significantly (p 0.05) decreased total cholesterol level compared to second group. Significant increase was observed in HDL-C in group 5 compared to second group. The data obtained revealed that triacylglycerol was significantly de¬creased due to supplementation with sugar cane wax extract of groups 4 and 5 compared to hypercholesterolemia in rats of second group. Non significant differences were noticed in the mean value of body weight, organ weight and relative organ weights between different experimental groups. Conclusion: Sugar cane wax seems to be a very promising photochemical alternative to classic lipid-lowering agents.