Background:

Polyoxyethylene stearate (POES) is a non-ionic emulsifying agent.

Polyoxyethylene stearate has been recommended as an additive to the radiolabelled 7H12 Middlebrook TB media and as such has been shown to enhance growth of mycobacteria in the radiometric BACTEC rapid culture system. Polyoxyethylene (50) stearate produces the greatest enhancement in growth and reduction in the time taken to detect growth for M. tuberculosis and polyoxyethylene (30) stearate and polyoxyethylene (JL) stearate for species of mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis[1]. Polyoxyethylene stearate inhibits P-gp mediated efflux in a concentration dependent manner mainly by modulating substrate-stimulated P-gp ATPase activity[2]. Polyoxyethylene 40 stearate reduces vinblastine sulfate efllux. The cytotoxicity of vinblastine to K562/ADR cells is significantly enhanced when the cells are cotreated with 100 or 150 μg/mL polyoxyethylene 40 stearate[3].

Polyoxyethylene stearate is potentially useful as a pharmaceutical ingredient to improve the oral bioavailability of coadministered P-gp substrates and substrates for certain CYP isoforms[2]. The average tumor volume and average tumor weight are significantly less in the polyoxyethylene 40 stearate+vinblastine group. The inhibition rate for tumor growth is increased from 0.06 (vinblastine group) to 0.84 (vinblastine+polyoxyethylene 40 stearate group)[3].

[1]. Cutler RR, et al. The effect of polyoxyethylene stearate (POES) on the growth of mycobacteria in radiometric 7H12 Middlebrook TB medium. Tubercle. 1987 Sep;68(3):209-20. [2]. Zhu S, et al. Effects of polyoxyethylene (40) stearate on the activity of P-glycoprotein and cytochrome P450. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2009 Jul 12;37(5):573-80. [3]. Luo L, et al. Polyoxyethylene 40 stearate modulates multidrug resistance and enhances antitumor activity of vinblastine sulfate. AAPS J. 2007 Oct 5;9(3):E329-35.