More About Polyprenols


Contents

  1. Discovery History
  2. Description
  3. Production Methods
  4. Biosynthesis
  5. Pharmacological Effects
  6. Mechanism of Action
  7. Side Effects
  8. Dosages
  9. References
1. Discovery History
In the 1960s, a group of compounds was successfully isolated and later named polyprenols. Following this discovery, publications began to emerge on the extraction of polyprenols from plants, human and animal tissues, insects, and fungi. It turned out that these compounds are inherent in all living organisms and, consequently, in living cells.

Polyprenols are unique plant analogs and precursors of dolichol. They have been identified in all living organisms: bacteria and other microorganisms, fungi, yeast, plants, and animals. The structure of polyprenols in many plants is remarkably similar to that of dolichols in humans and animals. This similarity is likely due to the formation of food chains during evolution: plants → herbivores → predators → humans. The highest concentration of polyprenols is found in coniferous plants, with their content increasing as the needles age. In Russia, the main commercially significant tree species—pine, fir, and spruce—contain 0.5–1.5% polyprenols by dry needle weight. The polyprenol chains in conifers consist of 10 to 24 isoprene units, closely resembling the chain length of human dolichols.

In plants, polyprenols are sometimes referred to as intracellular metabolism regulators, while in animals, their related compounds—dolichols—are present. In fact, dolichols are a type of polyprenol. Small amounts of dolichols have also been detected in the seeds of certain plants.
2. Description
Polyprenols are long linear molecules composed of five-carbon isoprene fragments, which is why they are sometimes referred to as polyisoprenoids. At the end of the molecule, there is a hydroxyl group (–OH) that can bind with organic and inorganic acids, forming esters.
In coniferous plants, polyprenols exist as acetate esters (bound to acetic acid).
In deciduous trees and herbaceous plants, they are found as esters of other organic acids.
In animal organisms, they primarily occur as phosphate esters.
Some polyprenols may also exist in a free (unbound) form.

CH3-C(CH3)=CH-CH2-(-CH2-C(CH3)=CH-CH2-)n-CH2-C(CH3)=CH-CH2-OH

Polyprenol


The molecular weight of polyprenols varies depending on the plant species:
Deciduous trees: 6–13 isoprene units
Coniferous trees: 10–21 isoprene units
Fruit trees: 11–42 isoprene units
Herbaceous plants: 5–30 isoprene units

CH3-C(CH3)=CH-CH2-(-CH2-C(CH3)=CH-CH2-)n-CH2-CH(CH3)-CH2-CH2-OH

Dolihol


As seen from the formulas, dolichols differ from polyprenols only in the last isoprene unit, where a double bond is replaced by a single bond. In humans, dolichols typically contain 12 to 22 isoprene units (n = 12–22).

It should be noted that the above formulas are highly simplified and do not account for stereochemistry, which can play a crucial role in the biological, physiological, and pharmaceutical activity of these naturally occurring compounds.

3. Production Methods
There are three known methods for obtaining polyprenols worldwide: extraction from animal and plant raw materials, as well as sophisticated organic synthesis techniques.
Polyprenols were first obtained from animal raw materials (processed from pig pancreas and liver). This production method still exists today in Japan and the United States, though it remains extremely costly. Approximately one gram of polyprenols can be extracted from two tons of liver.
Currently, polyprenols are also extracted from coniferous needles, primarily those of Siberian fir, pine, and spruce. The polyprenol content in dry needle mass ranges from 0.5% to 1%. While this production method remains relatively expensive, it proves significantly more economical than obtaining polyprenols from liver and other animal sources. In principle, polyprenols can be extracted from any plant, but deciduous trees and herbaceous plants contain polyprenols in quantities tens to hundreds of times smaller than conifers.
At present, the production of polyprenols through sophisticated organic synthesis methods is so complex and expensive that only low-molecular-weight polyprenols can be obtained. Furthermore, synthesis often fails to maintain molecular stereospecificity, resulting in reduced effectiveness when applied to complex living biological systems.
4. Biosynthesis
The synthesis of polyprenols follows the same pathway in plants, humans, and other mammals, as illustrated in the diagram:
Acetyl-CoA → Acetoacetyl-CoA

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA)

Mevalonate → Isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) ↔ Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP)

Geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP)

├→ Tocotrienols ↔ Ubiquinone
└→ Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) → Squalene → Cholesterol (all-trans)
Cis-Condensation Branch:
Isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)

Polyprenyl pyrophosphate → Dolichyl pyrophosphate

├→ Glycopeptides
└→ Polyprenols → Dolichol

├→ Acylation (acetate, fatty acids)
└→ Glycoproteins

5. Pharmacological Action
Over the years, approximately 500 patents have been filed for the use of polyprenols in treating various diseases, with thousands of publications—including research articles, conference reports, and dissertations—dedicated to this topic. The therapeutic effects of these compounds were so profound that they initially seemed implausible. It took about 40 years to dispel these doubts.
Research revealed that impairments in polyprenol synthesis contribute to a wide range of disorders—from skin diseases to Down syndrome.
Polyprenols represent a completely new, ninth class of hepatoprotectors, which are currently absent from the global market of bioactive supplements.
Clinical Applications
Alzheimer’s Disease: Positive results have been documented, including:
Elimination of vegetative-vascular disorders
Improved general well-being and vitality
Enhanced cognitive functions (memory, intellect, attention)
Progressive improvement in spatial working memory
Significant acceleration in information retrieval from long-term memory
More efficient conversion of verbal material into long-term memory
Antitumor Effects: Tested in tumor growth models, polyprenols demonstrated:
Suppression of tumor volume and mass
Reduction in metastasis count and total metastatic area
Chronic Alcoholism & Related Disorders: Polyprenols showed efficacy in:
Rapid regression of withdrawal syndrome
Improvement in psychosomatic and neurological disorders
Normalization of biochemical and laboratory markers
Enhanced liver, pancreas, and kidney function
Antidepressant effects and positive impact on cognitive performance
Summary of Research Findings
Based on extensive publications, polyprenols have been shown to:
Normalize dolichol levels in the body
Enhance resistance to diseases
Treat or support treatment of the following conditions:
  • List of Conditions
  • Pancreatic disorders (chronic pancreatitis)
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Gout
  • Diabetes
  • Encephalitis
  • Various chronic inflammatory diseases
  • Chronic degenerative diseases
  • Neurodegenerative CNS disorders
  • Immunodeficiency states (rheumatism, streptococcal infections)
  • Cardiovascular insufficiency
  • Myocardial ischemia
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Oncological diseases
  • Weakened immune system
  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiosclerosis
  • Bronchial emphysema
  • Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Optic nerve atrophy
  • Allergic diseases
  • Male infertility
  • Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis
  • Hepatobiliary system disorders
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Fatty and protein liver dystrophy
  • Chronic hepatitis A, B, C
  • Liver damage caused by toxic substances, narcotics, or alcohol
  • Vascular thrombosis
  • Arterial occlusion
  • Eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia)
  • Chronic alcoholism

Registered Medication in Russia: Ropren
The world’s first prescription polyprenol-based hepatoprotector, derived from spruce polyprenols. Developed by Solagran Ltd. (Australia) and manufactured by JSC "Pharmaceutical Factory of St. Petersburg". Available as oral drops.

6. Mechanism of Action
Dolichols are compounds synthesized in the liver that participate in the so-called dolichol phosphate cycle. This cycle represents one of the key processes in the human body, determining the functional state of all organs and systems, as well as each individual cell of animal organisms. Through this cycle, glycosylation of lipids and proteins occurs, resulting in the formation of glycoproteins - which in humans include receptors, plasma proteins, certain growth factors and hormones, enzymes, and immunoglobulins.
Glycoprotein synthesis occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. The ribosome, along with its signal sequence, moves to the plasma reticulum. The signal sequence identifies and binds to a docking protein, initiating protein synthesis. Nearby, polyprenol serves as the scaffold for assembling the carbohydrate chain, which is subsequently transferred to the corresponding protein.
Glycoproteins play crucial roles in: Intercellular communication, functioning as signaling molecules, structural components (e.g., collagen and mucus), composition of nucleotides.
Thus, they participate in both informational and energetic cellular processes.
Polyprenols also perform transport functions within cells. Their long molecules span the membrane three times, facilitating intake of essential substances and removal of cellular waste products.
In pathological conditions (hepatitis, hepatosis, cirrhosis, cancer, etc.), patients exhibit dramatically increased excretion of dolichols and polyprenols. Comparative studies of cancerous and healthy liver tissue revealed approximately 100-fold lower levels of polyprenols and ubiquinone in affected cells.
Chemical and radiation exposure also affects dolichol levels:
Carbon tetrachloride exposure
Liver cell irradiation in rats
Both conditions reduce dolichol levels, likely through free radical generation. Additionally, ethanol is known to increase dolichol concentrations in human blood and urine while affecting membrane fluidity in mouse brains.
The cytoprotective mechanism of polyprenols primarily involves their potent antioxidant activity. Research indicates that disruption of polyprenol synthesis or function leads to cellular apoptosis and organ failure, systemic dysfunction of cellular activities and organelles.
While many aspects remain unclear, the current understanding suggests:
Carbohydrate chain assembly occurs in the cytoplasm
Polyprenol enters the endoplasmic reticulum
Membrane restructuring converts it to dolichol
Carbohydrate chains are assembled and transferred to proteins
Further modification occurs in the Golgi apparatus
Some researchers propose that polyprenol-to-dolichol conversion occurs primarily in the liver, from where dolichols distribute throughout the body. This understanding supports the potential for replacement therapy using plant-derived polyprenols, given their structural similarity to human and mammalian dolichols - an approach validated by numerous experimental studies.

7. Side Effects
Unlike many pharmaceutical drugs, polyprenols are virtually harmless to humans. They exhibit no mutagenicity or teratogenicity, and demonstrate negligible acute and chronic toxicity. The fact that Ropren (a solution of polyprenols in vegetable oil) has been included in the Russian pharmacopeia confirms that polyprenols are officially recognized as medicinal substances in Russia, and their use in humans is approved by the Russian Ministry of Health.
Results from toxicological studies, observations of experimental animals following acute administration, and data from pathological examinations have classified Ropren as a Category V toxicity substance—meaning it is practically non-toxic.
8. Dosages
Since 2012, polyprenols have been included in the list of essential, irreplaceable nutritional components required for normal physiological functioning. The recommended daily intake levels of biologically active substances in specialized food products and dietary supplements were established by Decision No. 622 of the Customs Union Commission (April 7, 2011), as amended by Decision No. 208 of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board (November 6, 2012).

Adequate intake level:

10 mg


Upper tolerable intake level:

20 mg



A daily dose of 10 mg of polyprenols is considered sufficient to support basic human physiological functions, serving as a preventive measure.
For therapeutic purposes, significantly higher doses may be prescribed by a physician, adjusted based on individual medical indications. However, it must be acknowledged that most physicians remain largely unfamiliar with polyprenols and their clinical applications.
9. References
1. Burgas J., Hemming F., Pennock J., Morton R. Dolichol: a naturally occuring C100 isoprenoid alcochol// Biochem.J.- 1963.- V.88.- P.470-482.
2. Lindgren B., Homologous aliphatic C30-C45 terpenols in birch wood// Acta chem.seand.- 1965.- V.19.- № 6.- p.1317-1326.
3. Уайт А., Хендлер Ф., Смит Э., Хилл Р. Основы биохимии растений//М.: Мир. 1981.- Т.1-3
4. Рощин В.И. Состав, строение и биологическая активность терпеноидов из древесной зелени хвойных растений//дисс.докт. хим. н.- С-Пет.- 1995.- С. 406.
5. Ravi R., Rip J., Carroll K. Differenses in polyisoprenoid alcohols of mono- and dicotyledonous seeds// Lipids.- 1984.-V.19.-P.401-404.
6. Григорьева Н.Я., Пинскер О.А. Новые методы синтеза линейных функционализированнных изопреноидов и их 2,3-дигидропроизводных//Успехи химии.- 1994.- Т.63.- № 2.- с.177-191
7. Рощин В.И. Полипренолы хвойных растений: распространенность, биологическая активность// Материалы научно-практической конф. "Здоровое поколение 21 века. Новации в практике", Москва, 2013 г.
8. Григорьва Н.Я., Моисеенков А.М. Физиологическая активность полиизопреноидов (обзор патентных данных) // Хим.-фарм.журнал.- 1989.-№2.- С.144-155.
9. Хидырова Н.К., Шахидоятов Х.М. Полипренолы растений и их биологическая активность //Химия природных соединений.- 2002.-№2.- С.87-98.
10. Султанов В. С., Рощин В. И., Агишев В. Г. Опыт применения нового лекарственного препарата Ропрен у больных хронических алкоголизмом.// Матер. 4-го междисципл. Рос. Конгр. «Человек и проблемы зависимостей: междисциплинарные аспекты». Архангельск, 2010. С. 48-49.
11. Султанов В.С. Ропрен – первый в мире полипренольный фармацевтический препарат для лечения заболеваний печени и мозга//Фармацевтический бюллетень Казахстана.-2012.
12. Parentini, I., Bergamini, E., Cecchi, L., Cavallini, G., Donati, A., Maccheroni,
M., Tamburini, I., Gorii, Z. The effect of carbon tetrachloride and ultraviolet
radiation on dolichol levels in liver cells isolated from 3- and 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats // Biogerontology. 2003. V. 4. P.365-370.
13. Roine, R., Nykanen, I., Salaspuro, M. Effect of alcohol on urinary and blood dolichols // Biochem. Cell Biol. 1992. V.70. P.404-407
14. Wood, W.G., Gorka, C., Schroeder, F. Acute and chronic effects of ethanol on transbilayer membrane domains // J. Neurochem. 1989. V. 52. P. 1925-1930.
15. Карпицкий В.И., Карпицкая Л.Г. Исследование состава и антиоксидантной активности ацетатов полипренолов, выделенных из древесной зелени хвойных пород // Материалы 4 всерос. конф."Новые достижения в химии и химической технологии растительного сырья".- Барнаул.-2009.-С.124.

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