Polyprenol
Encyclopedia
Polyprenols are natural long-chain isoprenoid 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. Dolichol
s, which are found in all living creatures, including man, are their 2,3-dihydro derivatives.
In the early 1930s, a scientific team at the Forest Technical Academy in St Petersburg, Russia led by Professor Fyodor Solodky, the founder of Forest Biochemistry, and Dr Asney Agranet, began research into the composition of conifer tree needles. They were intrigued by the trees ability to remain disease free in extremes of temperature ± 40 degrees Celsius.
Development of Solodky's research led Russian scientists to isolate a completely different class of organic substance from the needles, including polyprenols.
.
What polyprenols are to plants, dolichol
s 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 synthesis
of glycoproteins.
All proteins from secretions, membranes
and intracellular glycoproteins form the basis for the building of membrane receptor
s which are used in the production of insulin
, adrenalin, oestrogen, testosterone
and other hormones and enzymes. Seemingly, dolichols have an important role in maintenance of the correct lipid
composition of membranes
. Decreased levels of dolichols are registered with acute rheumatism
and other immunodeficient conditions.
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 the capacity to kill cancerous cells during chemotherapy
whilst protecting healthy cells within the body.
The pharmacological activity of polyprenols takes place in the liver where they are metabolized into dolichols.
.
Polyprenols stimulate the immune system
, cellular reparation and spermatogenesis
, and have antistress, adaptogenic, antiulcerogenic and wound-healing activity. Dolichols have antioxidant
activity and protect cell membranes from peroxidation. Experiments on mice have demonstrated that polyprenols have antiviral
activity, in particular against influenza
viruses. It has been established that the dolichol level in liver tumor cells are reduced in comparison with healthy hepatic cells.
The Australian pharmaceutical company, Solagran Limited
, has been investigating the medical significance of polyprenols and their substitution with dolichols when ingested where there is a deficiency. Trials of Ropren (already pharmaceutically registered as a hepatoprotector in relation to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease
) in both Russia and Australia indicate potential as a safe and effective treatment.
units, the cost can vary up to around US$100,000 per gram.
A Russian company by the name of SibEX has developed the world's first commercial polyprenols manufacturing facility in the university city of Tomsk
in central Siberia. SibEX is claiming the ability to manufacture polyprenols at up to 20 kg per month from conifer needles sourced from the Siberian forests.
SibEX is majority-owned by Solagran
. That company has historic links with the Forest Technical Academy in St Petersburg. Solagran has developed a medicinal product by the name of Ropren, the main substance of which is a 95% purity concentrate of polyprenols. Ropren has recently been registered as a pharmaceutical in Russia as a hepatoprotector
, and has recently commenced being used in Russian hospitals for the treatment of liver diseases and related conditions.
Isoprene
Isoprene , or 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, is a common organic compound with the formula CH2=CCH=CH2. Under standard conditions it is a colorless liquid...
units. Any prenol with more than 4 isoprene
Isoprene
Isoprene , or 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, is a common organic compound with the formula CH2=CCH=CH2. Under standard conditions it is a colorless liquid...
units is a polyprenol. Polyprenols play an important function acting as natural bioregulators and are found in small quantities in various plant tissues. Dolichol
Dolichol
Dolichol refers to any of a group of long-chain mostly unsaturated organic compounds that are made up of varying numbers of isoprene units terminating in an α-saturated isoprenoid group, containing an alcohol functional group.-Functions:...
s, which are found in all living creatures, including man, are their 2,3-dihydro derivatives.
Source
Live trees are known to contain polyprenols. The needles of conifer trees are one of the richest sources of polyprenols. They are also present in shiitake mushrooms in trace amounts.Research
Polyprenols have been researched in many leading universities and laboratories 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 Professor Fyodor Solodky, the founder of Forest Biochemistry, and Dr Asney Agranet, began research into the composition of conifer tree needles. They were intrigued by the trees ability to remain disease free in extremes of temperature ± 40 degrees Celsius.
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 biosynthesisBiosynthesis
Biosynthesis is an enzyme-catalyzed process in cells of living organisms by which substrates are converted to more complex products. The biosynthesis process often consists of several enzymatic steps in which the product of one step is used as substrate in the following step...
.
What polyprenols are to plants, dolichol
Dolichol
Dolichol refers to any of a group of long-chain mostly unsaturated organic compounds that are made up of varying numbers of isoprene units terminating in an α-saturated isoprenoid group, containing an alcohol functional group.-Functions:...
s 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
Isoprene
Isoprene , or 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, is a common organic compound with the formula CH2=CCH=CH2. Under standard conditions it is a colorless liquid...
unit.
Through dolichols, the dolichol phosphate cycle occurs. The dolichol phosphate cycle plays a major role in the synthesis
Biosynthesis
Biosynthesis is an enzyme-catalyzed process in cells of living organisms by which substrates are converted to more complex products. The biosynthesis process often consists of several enzymatic steps in which the product of one step is used as substrate in the following step...
of glycoproteins.
All proteins from secretions, membranes
Cell membrane
The cell membrane or plasma membrane is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells. It basically protects the cell...
and intracellular glycoproteins form the basis for the building of membrane receptor
Membrane receptor
Cell surface receptors are specialized integral membrane proteins that take part in communication between the cell and the outside world...
s which are used in the production of insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
, adrenalin, oestrogen, testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
and other hormones and enzymes. Seemingly, dolichols have an important role in maintenance of the correct lipid
Lipid
Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others...
composition of membranes
Cell membrane
The cell membrane or plasma membrane is a biological membrane that separates the interior of all cells from the outside environment. The cell membrane is selectively permeable to ions and organic molecules and controls the movement of substances in and out of cells. It basically protects the cell...
. Decreased levels of dolichols are registered with acute rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
and other immunodeficient conditions.
The dolichol phosphate cycle facilitates the process of cellular membrane glycosylation
Glycosylation
Glycosylation is the reaction in which a carbohydrate, i.e. a glycosyl donor, is attached to a hydroxyl or other functional group of another molecule . In biology glycosylation refers to the enzymatic process that attaches glycans to proteins, lipids, or other organic molecules...
, 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 the capacity to kill cancerous cells during chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
whilst protecting healthy cells within the body.
The pharmacological activity of polyprenols takes place in the liver where they are metabolized into dolichols.
Potential medical applications
The interest in polyprenols and dolichols is associated with their wide range of demonstrated biological activity and extremely low toxicityToxicity
Toxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
.
Polyprenols stimulate the immune system
Immune system
An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own...
, cellular reparation and spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis
Spermatogenesis is the process by which male primary germ cells undergo division, and produce a number of cells termed spermatogonia, from which the primary spermatocytes are derived. Each primary spermatocyte divides into two secondary spermatocytes, and each secondary spermatocyte into two...
, and have antistress, adaptogenic, antiulcerogenic and wound-healing activity. Dolichols have antioxidant
Antioxidant
An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...
activity and protect cell membranes from peroxidation. Experiments on mice have demonstrated that polyprenols have antiviral
Antiviral
Antiviral may refer to:*Antiviral drug*Antiviral protein*Antivirus software*Antiviral Therapy, an academic journal...
activity, in particular against influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
viruses. It has been established that the dolichol level in liver tumor cells are reduced in comparison with healthy hepatic cells.
The Australian pharmaceutical company, Solagran Limited
Solagran
Solagran Limited is an Australian pharmaceutical company which has developed a range of biologically-active multifaceted therapeutic substances derived from the live elements of the green needles of certain species of conifer tree known as Bioeffectives....
, has been investigating the medical significance of polyprenols and their substitution with dolichols when ingested where there is a deficiency. Trials of Ropren (already pharmaceutically registered as a hepatoprotector in relation to neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
) in both Russia and Australia indicate potential as a safe and effective treatment.
Availability
Companies such as Larodan Fine Chemicals AB in Sweden and Indofine Chemical Company, Inc. in the United States produce small quantities of polyprenols for scientific research purposes. Depending on the number of isopreneIsoprene
Isoprene , or 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, is a common organic compound with the formula CH2=CCH=CH2. Under standard conditions it is a colorless liquid...
units, the cost can vary up to around US$100,000 per gram.
A Russian company by the name of SibEX has developed the world's first commercial polyprenols manufacturing facility in the university city of Tomsk
Tomsk
Tomsk is a city and the administrative center of Tomsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Tom River. One of the oldest towns in Siberia, Tomsk celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2004...
in central Siberia. SibEX is claiming the ability to manufacture polyprenols at up to 20 kg per month from conifer needles sourced from the Siberian forests.
SibEX is majority-owned by Solagran
Solagran
Solagran Limited is an Australian pharmaceutical company which has developed a range of biologically-active multifaceted therapeutic substances derived from the live elements of the green needles of certain species of conifer tree known as Bioeffectives....
. That company has historic links with the Forest Technical Academy in St Petersburg. Solagran has developed a medicinal product by the name of Ropren, the main substance of which is a 95% purity concentrate of polyprenols. Ropren has recently been registered as a pharmaceutical in Russia as a hepatoprotector
Hepatoprotection
Hepatoprotection or antihepatotoxicity is the ability to prevent damage to the liver.An example of a hepatoprotective medicine is silibinin, derived from Milk Thistle, which selectively inhibits leukotriene formation by Kupffer cells....
, and has recently commenced being used in Russian hospitals for the treatment of liver diseases and related conditions.