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Policosanol

Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols isolated from sugarcane wax and beeswax. It contains 1-Octacosanol, Triacontanol, Tetracosanol, Hexacosanol, Heptacosanol. These alcohols occur naturally in wax form and are characterized by fatty alcohol chains ranging from 20 to 39 carbon atoms in length. The major component of policosanol are the aliphatic alcohols octacosanol and triacontanol. Long chain alcohols are known to have beneficial effects on human health. Long chain alcohols, including policosanol, are therapeutically useful materials with efficacy in lowering cholesterol or blood lipids, inhibiting platelet aggregation and improving stamina. Therefore, the incorporation of long chain alcohols such as policosanol in various foods is desirable. Plant derived long-chained aliphatic alcohols have also been documented to reduce serum cholesterol levels in experimental models, healthy humans and in type II hypercholesterolemic patients. Policosanol, have been employed in the treatment of elevated serum cholesterol levels.

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