Polyprenol

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Polyprenol
Identifiers
ChemSpider
  • none
Properties
H-(C5H8)n-OH
Appearance Transparent oily liquid
Density 0.902–0.905 g/cm3
Insoluble
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Polyprenols are natural long-chain

alcohols of the general formula H-(C5H8)n-OH, where n is the number of isoprene units. Any prenol with more than 4 isoprene units is a polyprenol. Polyprenols play an important function, acting as natural bioregulators and are found in small quantities in various plant tissues. Dolichols, which are found in all living creatures, including humans, are their 2,3-dihydro derivatives.[1]

Sources

Live trees are known to contain polyprenols. The needles of

shiitake mushrooms in trace amounts.[3]

Research

Polyprenols have been studied for more than 30 years. Interest has been strongest in Russia, Europe, Japan, India, and the United States. In the early 1930s, a scientific team at the Forest Technical Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia led by Fyodor Solodky, the founder of Forest Biochemistry, and Asney Agranet, began research into the composition of conifer tree needles.[4] They were intrigued by the trees' ability to remain disease free in extremes of temperature ± 40 °C. Development of Solodky's research led Russian scientists to isolate a completely different class of organic substance from the needles, including polyprenols.

Functions

Polyprenols are low molecular natural bioregulators (physiologically active), playing a significant modulating role in the

cellular process in plants referred to as biosynthesis
.

What polyprenols are to plants, dolichols are to all living creatures, including man. They are in fact of a very similar chemical composition. Dolichols are a derivative of polyprenols with a saturated isoprene unit.

Through dolichols, the dolichol phosphate cycle occurs. The dolichol phosphate cycle plays a major role in the

glycoproteins
.

All proteins from

enzymes. Seemingly, dolichols have an important role in maintenance of the correct lipid composition of membranes. Decreased levels of dolichols have been connected to higher levels of peroxidation of lipids.[5]


The dolichol phosphate cycle facilitates the process of cellular membrane glycosylation, that is, the synthesis of glycoproteins that control the interactions of cells, support the immune system and the stabilization of protein molecules. Out of all these glycoproteins, polyglycoprotein has been found to create drug resistance to multiple cancer treatments and keep cancer cells alive.[6]

The pharmacological activity of polyprenols takes place in the liver, where they are metabolized into dolichols.[7]

Potential medical applications

The interest in polyprenols and dolichols is associated with their wide range of demonstrated biological activity and extremely low toxicity.

Polyprenols cellular reparation and

hepatic cells.[11]

The Australian pharmaceutical company Solagran Limited has been investigating the medical significance of polyprenols.[12][13]

References

  1. PMID 11761009
    .
  2. PMID 9584863
    .
  3. PMID 15172827
    .
  4. ^ "Science of Polyprenols – Siberian Polyprenols". Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  5. PMID 26968401
    .
  6. ^ Pilotto Heming C, Muriithi W, Wanjiku Macharia L, Niemeyer Filho P, Moura-Neto V, Aran V. P-glycoprotein and cancer: what do we currently know? Heliyon. 2022 Oct 22;8(10):e11171. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11171. PMID: 36325145; PMCID: PMC9618987.
  7. PMID 6401722
    .
  8. ^ Roschin V.I. Chemical composition of lipid fraction of green pine and spruce needles. In edition Study and application of therapeutic-prophylactic medications based on natural biologically active compounds. Edited by V.G. Bespalov and V.B. Nekrasova, SPb. Eskulap, 2000, pp.114-116
  9. PMID 15096696
    .
  10. PMID 15741774
    .
  11. PMID 2166541
    .
  12. ^ "Company Announcement" (PDF) (Press release). Solagram Limited. 20 September 2005.
  13. ^ "Company Announcement" (PDF) (Press release). Solagram Limited. 21 February 2007.
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