Policosanol

Policosanol is the generic term for a mixture of long chain alcohols extracted from plant waxes. It is used as a dietary supplement.
Policosanol was originally derived from sugar cane but the chemicals can also be isolated from beeswax, cereal grains, grasses, leaves, fruits, nuts, and seeds of many foods. Plant waxes consist of very long chain fatty acids that have been esterified to very long chain alcohol s. Policosanols are very long chain alcohols with carbon backbones ranging from 24 to 34 carbons.