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Pharmacological, nutritional, and analytical aspects of β-sitosterol: a review

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Abstract

Sterols are an essential component of cell membrane of both the animal and plant cell. Cholesterol and β-sitosterol are prevalent in animals and plants respectively. β-sitosterol is biosynthesized in plants via mevalonic acid pathway. Consumption of β-sitosterol in vegetarian diet is high however it is very less absorbed. β-sitosterol competes with cholesterol for absorption due to similarity in their structure therefore is used as antihyperlipidemic agent. Pharmacological screening of β-sitosterol revealed various activities like antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antifertility, angiogenic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antinociceptive without major toxicity. Pharmacokinetics of β-sitosterol is also studied well. Many formulations have been prepared by various authors. However, there is paucity of scientific review of the pharmacology, phytochemistry and analytical methods for β-sitosterol. β-sitosterol is very common ingredient of most of the plant materials, humans are using it for different purposes and many β-sitosterol-containing products have been marketed, therefore, knowledge of its properties with scientific basis is not only of academic interest but also of those who use β-sitosterol as well. Present review compiles and discusses in details the literature on β-sitosterol focusing on its biosynthesis, pharmacology, neutraceutical aspects, toxicology, formulations and analytical methods. This review opens new perspective for the investigations of biological properties of β-sitosterol and development of new formulations for treatment of various diseases.

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Acknowledgments

Authors would like to acknowledge with thanks the librarien of Agharkar Research Institute, Poona College of Pharmacy, AFMC and National Chemical Laboratory for their kind support and help during referencing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. JSPM’s Jayawantrao Sawant College of Pharmacy and Research, Hadapsar, Pune, 411028, India

    Shirishkumar D. Ambavade

  2. Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agharkar Road, Pune, 411004, India

    Ashwini V. Misar

  3. Haffkin Biopharmaceutal Corporation Ltd, Pimpari, Pune, 411018, India

    Prashant D. Ambavade

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Ambavade, S.D., Misar, A.V. & Ambavade, P.D. Pharmacological, nutritional, and analytical aspects of β-sitosterol: a review. Orient Pharm Exp Med 14, 193–211 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-014-0151-9

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