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Plant sterols in vegetables, fruits and berries
Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture
Abstract
The plant sterol contents of the most important vegetables, fruits and berries available in Finland were determined by capillary gas chromatography. The sample preparation procedure included both acid and alkaline hydrolysis to liberate sterols from their conjugates. The plant sterol contents of fresh vegetables ranged from 51 to 370 mg kg ⁻¹ fresh weight (fw) in samples obtained from retail sale. The highest contents (>300 mg kg ⁻¹ ) were measured in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and dill and the lowest (51 mg kg ⁻¹ ) in potato. The range of sterol contents on a dry weight (dw) basis was high, 246–4100 mg kg ⁻¹ dw. Considerable variation was also observed when individual samples of some vegetables were compared. Sitosterol was the main sterol (proportion 43–86%) in all vegetables except cucumber and spinach, in which Δ ⁷ ‐sterols dominated. The total sterol contents were in the range 116–228 mg kg ⁻¹ fw in all fresh fruits except avocado, which contained more sterols, 752 mg kg ⁻¹ fw. In fresh berries the corresponding range was 60–279 m kg ⁻¹ fw. The wild berries lingonberry and blueberry were better plant sterol sources than the cultivated berries blackcurrant, redcurrant and strawberry. In fruits and berries the proportion of sitosterol ranged from 61–93% total sterols. On the basis of the results, the contribution of vegetables, fruits and berries to the total average daily plant sterol intake was estimated to be ca 60 mg.
© 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
... Fatty acids in berries play a role in their nutritional and functional attributes because these compounds protect the human body from free radicals and active oxygen species, provide energy, support cell membrane structure, and have been associated with various health benefits, including anti-inflammatory properties and cardiovascular health even if they are present in minor quantities . Phytosterols are another group of bioactive compounds that have gained attention for its potential health benefits apart from the fatty acids in berries (Piironen et al., 2003;. Terpenes are another class of plant secondary metabolites and complex compounds originating from squalene, a basic linear hydrocarbon . ...
... Phytosterols are synthesized through the mevalonate pathway in plants, a metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids (Piironen et al., 2003). Isoprenoids are a large class of natural compounds that include terpenes, carotenoids, and phytosterols. ...
... In addition, the antioxidant properties of phytosterols can help lower cholesterol in the blood. Furthermore, epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that dietary phytosterols may protect against various types of cancer (Piironen et al., 2003). These results have sparked a general interest in identifying the importance of plant sterols in food. ...
Prairie berries are cold hardy fruits consumed by Canadians for their perceived health benefits. Phenolic compounds, fatty acids, phytosterols and terpenes are important groups of bioactive molecules present in berries. Assessment of the bioactive compounds is essential to identify their potential as a functional food. The objective of this study was to comprehensively examine the contents of phenolic compounds, fatty acids, phytosterols and terpenes content of fourteen
... PUFAs, particularly omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, play vital roles in various biological processes. 36,42 The highest proportion (74% out of the total fat content) of PUFAs was found in wild grapes, followed by chokecherry (64%) and haskap Fig. 1 A stacked column of the total fatty acid distribution in Canadian wild berries based on the data from GC-MS analysis of fatty acid methyl esters. The letters above the columns indicate significant differences ( p < 0.05) within a column (total fat content of each berry type) obtained from a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and mean separation was performed using Turkey's test. ...
... In literature, the concentrations of plant sterols in fresh berries varied, ranging from 60 mg per kg FW in red currant to 279 mg per kg FW in lingonberry, with cultivated berries such as blackcurrant, redcurrant, and strawberry showing significantly lower levels compared to wild berries such as lingonberry and blueberry. 42 Previous studies on buckthorn found that berry seeds and pulp/peel exhibited high oil content, containing significant amounts of phytosterols (up to 23 g kg −1 in seed oil, up to 29 g kg −1 in pulp/peel oil). 36 Among the cultivated berries, raspberries displayed a higher sterol content than the others. ...
... More recently, buckthorn berries contained sterols 340-520 mg kg −1 , corresponding values in seeds and fresh pulp/peel at 1200-1800 mg kg −1 and 240-400 mg kg −1 , respectively. 42 Additionally, previous studies on raspberry and blueberry berry seeds showcased notable levels of β-sitosterol when the seeds were cold-pressed for oil. 9 Previous research suggests that β-sitosterol possesses antioxidant properties and antigenotoxic and immuno-stimulant potential. ...
Traditional berries are small fruits and are widely distributed in the Canadian prairies. The current study investigates the lipophilic bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes, and their bioactivities, such as lipid peroxidation as well as the anti-hypertensive activities of fourteen underutilized Canadian wild berries. These berries include Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia), gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), wild grapes (Vitis riparia), blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum), redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea), wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), highbush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum), chokecherries (Prunus virginiana), nannyberries (Viburnum lentago) and snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus). The fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Lipid peroxidation and the anti-hypertensive activity assessed by measuring angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) inhibitory activity of the berries were determined using in vitro methods. Notably, wild grapes exhibited the highest (p<0.05) total fat content (7659±312 µg/g DW), followed by haskap berries (4650±184 µg/g DW). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest (p<0.05) in wild grapes (74%). Predominant phytosterols and terpenes identified in Canadian wild berries included β-sitosterol, isofucosterol, phytol, and α-amyrin. Saskatoon berries and gooseberries showed a distinct phytosterol and terpene profile compared to the other wild berries. Snowberries demonstrated the highest (p<0.05) lipid peroxidation and the lowest (p<0.05) angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activity. This research provides valuable insights into the lipophilic bioactive compounds and their potential activities in vitro of the Canadian wild berries, offering a foundation for further exploration and applications in functional foods or nutraceuticals.
... The scan time was 0.5 s with 0.1 s inter-scan delays. The UNSAP fractions of the oily preparation obtained previously were treated with N, O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA, 99% + 1% trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in the presence of pyridine [25]. The derivatized samples were analyzed directly by GC-MS. ...
... The results of the GC/MS analysis of the phytosterol fraction of the three samples are given in Table 8 and Figure 3. The total phytosterol content was 128.56 ± 2.40 mg/100 g in the HEAI, reflecting a high concentration of dietary phytosterols that could efficiently reduce the cholesterol level in the blood [25,42]. The sterol fraction contained three major compounds; in decreasing order of importance, they were β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. ...
... During this period, the phytosterols are no longer synthesized but are converted into other compounds [44]. The total phytosterol content was 128.56 ± 2.40 mg/100 g in the HEAI, reflecting a high concentration of dietary phytosterols that could efficiently reduce the cholesterol level in the blood [25,42]. The sterol fraction contained three major compounds; in decreasing order of importance, they were β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol. ...
(1) Background: The neem tree, Azadirachta indica (A. Juss), is a well-known species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of skin conditions such as irritation, eczema, burns, and wounds. The objective of the current study was to investigate the physicochemical and wound-healing properties of A. indica fruits. (2) Methods: Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the content of fatty acids and phytosterols, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the tocopherol content. The wound-healing activity was observed on the backs of six adult male rabbits. (3) Results: The results showed that the plant contained fatty acids, as well as oleic (46.05%), palmitic (23.94%), linoleic (11.39%), and stearic (7.87%) acids. The phytosterols were three major compounds; in decreasing order of importance, they were β-sitosterol (97.26 mg/100 g), campesterol (18.94 mg/100 g), and stigmasterol (12.05 mg/100 g). There were also traces of cholesterol. The neem was a moderate source of vitamin E (α-tocopherol, 14.86 mg/100 g). The hexane extracts showed no acute toxicity and low eye and skin irritability and had reasonable safety and important wound-healing activity. (4) Conclusions: The results confirmed that A. indica is a valuable source of fatty acids, phytosterols, and vitamin E and is efficient in the process of wound healing.
... Vegetables and fruits also contain significant amounts of β-sitosterol (Normen et al., 2007). It constitutes a large percentage of total phytosterols in vegetables and fruits, amounting to 44%-86% and 72%-92%, respectively (Piironen et al., 2003) (Table 9.1). ...
... Table 9.2 presents the β-sitosterol content and its percentage of total sterols (%) in vegetable oils. Piironen et al. (2003) Taking into account the fact that the phytosterols cannot be synthesized by the human organism, they should be daily taken in recommended amounts (1.5-2.4 g day − 1 , EFSA, 2009) as a part of the diet from which they are transferred in human blood and tissues. Therefore, in addition to natural sources, phytosterols are incorporated into fat-containing food products, such as margarine, kinds of butter, and salad dressings providing new enriched food products with high nutritional value. ...
... By applying frying conditions, rapeseed oil, margarine, or butter formed phytosterol oxidation products as 2.96, 1.87, and 1.11 g kg − 1 for butter, margarine, and rapeseed oil, respectively (Lin et al., 2016). By using metal pans for the heating of canola oil, the concentration of β-sitosterol was reduced from 3.23 to 2.16, 0.18, 0.12 g kg − 1 at 100°C, 150°C, and 180°C, respectively (Piironen et al., 2003). ...
Phytosterols are integral natural components of plant cell membranes and are abundant in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and grains. Phytosterols have multiple beneficial effects on human health, such as hypocholesterolemic, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities. Evidence show that these bioactives play an essential role in the reduction of blood cholesterol, thus providing protection from the cardiovascular morbidity. β-Sitosterol is a significant member of the phytosterol group, which is found in cereals, vegetables, and fruits in concentrations of 0.24–0.61, 0.02–0.41, and 0.02–0.34 g kg− 1, respectively. Vegetable oils are rich sources of β-sitosterol containing 0.24–8.79 g kg− 1 (representing 33%–91% of total phytosterols); specifically, olive oil and olive pomace oil have a high β-sitosterol concentration ranging between 0.91 and 1.52 g kg− 1 (representing 75%–90% of total phytosterols). Due to the functional role of phytosterols, especially of β-sitosterol, the conditions of use of their health claims are set out in the Commission Regulation (EU) No 686/2014. This chapter aims to discuss the chemical structure and properties, the role, and the functionality of β-sitosterol. The main sources of β-sitosterol focusing on vegetable oils, mainly olive oil and olive pomace oil, are also presented. The fate of phytosterols and especially of β-sitosterol during food processing such as oil refining and other processes (i.e., frying) is also discussed. Finally, the enrichment of various food systems with β-sitosterol including commercial fats, butter, and nanoemulsions are reviewed offering an updated glimpse of valuable applications of this functional component.
... Tocopherols are synthesized in the inner membrane of cytoplasmatic chloroplasts and then distributed between chloroplast membranes, thylakoids, and plastoglobules, where they exert their protective ability by scavenging and quenching reactive oxygen species and fat-soluble by-products of oxidative stress [22]. Free sterols and to an extent, steryl glycosides and acylated steryl glycosides, are incorporated into cell membranes, while the esterified sterols are present in the cytosol as storage forms of sterols [23,24]. As reviewed by Schirck et al. [24], molecular interactions in sterol-rich microdomains or another form of sterol-dependent membrane scaffolding may be critical for maintaining the correct subcellular localization, structural integrity or activity of the cellulose synthase machinery. ...
... Comparing our results with literature, we found lower levels of sterols in raw cauliflower. In white cauliflower, sterols accounted for 276 mg/kg (wet basis) or 3186 mg/kg (dry basis) [47], 274-411 mg/kg w/w or 4092-5274 mg/kg (dry basis) [23] and 40 mg/100 g of edible portion [48]. The lower values under our experimental conditions could be due to different extraction method applied: we performed only alkaline saponification of the starting sample, while the authors also performed the acid hydrolysis that is able to release the steryl glycoside sterols. ...
... The lower values under our experimental conditions could be due to different extraction method applied: we performed only alkaline saponification of the starting sample, while the authors also performed the acid hydrolysis that is able to release the steryl glycoside sterols. Among vegetables, the highest levels of sterols, e.g., >300 mg/kg (wet basis), were found in broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and dill [23]. These higher values were supposed to be due to the higher content of meristematic tissues rich in cell membrane, especially those constituting cauliflower florets [23]. ...
The effects induced by heat on Depurple and Cheddar (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) during boiling, steaming, and sous-vide were investigated to elucidate the role of the basic cellular elements in softening and extractability of sterols and tocopherols. With this aim, an elastoplastic mechanical model was conceptualized at a cell scale-size and validated under creep experiments. The total amount of the phytochemicals was used to validate multivariate regression models in forecasting. Boiling was the most effective method to enhance the softening mechanisms causing tissue decompartmentalization through cell wall loosening with respect to those causing cell separation, having no impact on the phytochemical extractability. Sous-vide showed the lowest impact on cell wall integrity, but the highest in terms of cell separation. Steaming showed an intermediate behavior. Tissue of the Depurple cauliflower was the most resistant to the heat, irrespectively to the heating technology. Local heterogeneity in the cell wall and cell membrane, expected as a plant variety-dependent functional property, was proposed as a possible explanation because sterol extractability under lower heat-transfer efficiency, i.e., steaming and sous-vide, decreased in Depurple and increased in Cheddar as well as because the extractability of sterols and tocopherols was greater in Cheddar.
... Most of the data for vegetables and potatoes were taken from Normen et al. [29]. Data gaps in the vegetables group were filled in from the publications by Han et al. [30], Piironen et al. [31], Ryan et al. [32], the British database of Food Composition [24], and the USDA Nutrient Database [14]. The plant sterol contents in fruits and berries were compiled from the USDA Database [14], Piironen et al. [31], Normen et al. [29], and Han et al. [30]. ...
... Data gaps in the vegetables group were filled in from the publications by Han et al. [30], Piironen et al. [31], Ryan et al. [32], the British database of Food Composition [24], and the USDA Nutrient Database [14]. The plant sterol contents in fruits and berries were compiled from the USDA Database [14], Piironen et al. [31], Normen et al. [29], and Han et al. [30]. The plant sterol contents in nuts and seeds were taken from the USDA Database [14], the British database of Food Composition [24], and Normen et al. [27]. ...
... The plant sterol content in the sterolic fraction of coffee was taken fromČížková et al. [37] and recalculated per 100 g of coffee. For pastry and cookies, data were extracted from the British database of Food Composition [24], the USDA Database [14], and Piironen et al. [31]. For chocolate and chocolate candies, data were compiled from Normen et al. [27]. ...
Plant sterols are compounds with multiple biological functions, mainly cholesterol-reducing. There are no comprehensive databases on plant sterols, which makes it difficult to estimate their intake in the Polish population. This work attempted to use international food databases, additionally supplemented by scientific data from the literature, to create a database of plant sterols, which would cover various kinds of foods and dishes consumed in Poland. The aim was to assess the size and sources of dietary plant sterols in the adult population of Poland. The literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify possible sources of published food composition data for plant sterols. The study group consisted of 5690 participants of the WOBASZ II survey. We identified 361 dietary sources of plant sterols based on the consumption of foods and dishes reported by participants. Cereals and fats provided 61% of the total plant sterols, and together with vegetables and fruits, this totaled 80%. The median intake of plant sterols in the Polish population was 255.96 mg/day, and for men and women 291.76 and 230.61 mg/day, respectively. Canola oil provided the most plant sterols at 16.92%, followed by white bread at 16.65% and soft margarine at 8.33%. The study found that plant sterol intake in Poland is comparable to other populations, and women’s diets are more dense in plant sterols. Due to the lack of literature sources on plant sterol content in some foods, future studies should expand and complete the databases on plant sterol content in foods.
... Phytosterols are synthesized through the mevalonate pathway in plants, a metabolic pathway for the biosynthesis of isoprenoids. [76] Isoprenoids are a large class of natural compounds that include terpenes, carotenoids, and phytosterols. The mevalonate pathway begins with the condensation of acetyl-CoA to form HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A), which is then reduced to mevalonic acid. ...
... [97] In addition, the antioxidant properties of phytosterols can help lower cholesterol in the blood. Furthermore, epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that dietary PS may protect against various types of cancer [76] These results have sparked a general interest in identifying the importance of plant sterols in food. Fig. 6 shows the common forms of phytosterols present in berries. ...
The Canadian prairies are home to several underutilized berries, including Vitis riparia (wild grape), Prunus virginiana L (chokecherry), Ribes hirtellum (gooseberry), and Amelanchier alnifolia L (Saskatoon berry). These berries are traditionally consumed due to their perceived health benefits and are known for their ability to thrive in cold climates. One of the key reasons for their health benefits is the presence of phenolic compounds, which are one of the bioactive molecules found in berries that promote good health. Each berry species contains a diverse array of phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and proanthocyanidins, among others. These phenolic compounds contribute to the distinct flavors, colors, and aromas of the berries. Phenolic compounds are known for their high antioxidant activity, and there has been growing interest in identifying their potential health benefits. The consumption of these berries has been traditionally linked to perceived health benefits, and emerging scientific evidence supports their potential as functional foods. Studies have shown that these prairie berries may have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular health-promoting effects, among others. Additionally, their high antioxidant activity may help to reduce oxidative stress and protect against cellular damage, which could contribute to the prevention of degenerative diseases. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the types of berries that are grown in the Canadian prairies, their bioactive compounds, and the related health benefits they may offer.
... Given the extensive health benefits of plantderived bioactive molecules such as plant sterols and plant stanols, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and organic acids, they are being progressively consumed by human beings (Floros et al. 2010). Piironen et al. (2003) have described phytosterols as fatty compounds or steroids derived from plant sources contributing to the major unsaponifiable content in plant lipids (Piironen et al. 2003). Their structure is defined as a steroid skeleton including a saturated bond between C5 and C6 of the sterol moiety. ...
... Given the extensive health benefits of plantderived bioactive molecules such as plant sterols and plant stanols, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and organic acids, they are being progressively consumed by human beings (Floros et al. 2010). Piironen et al. (2003) have described phytosterols as fatty compounds or steroids derived from plant sources contributing to the major unsaponifiable content in plant lipids (Piironen et al. 2003). Their structure is defined as a steroid skeleton including a saturated bond between C5 and C6 of the sterol moiety. ...
... Sundararaman et al. reported a simple conversion of stigmasterol (1) to progesterone (4) (Scheme 1), a female sex hormone and an important key intermediate for corticosteroid synthesis. This oxidation reaction was done under various conditions, such as ozonization and Table 1 Reported quantities of stigmasterol in different vegetables and fruits [16,17]. photooxidation. ...
... Li et al. performed Oppenauer oxidation to synthesize progesterone (4) in which 5-ene-3-ol of stigmasterol (1) was transformed into 4-ene-3one 15 using ozone to oxidize side chain of stigmasterol at the lowtemperature condition and then followed by reductive hydrolysis to get pregn-4-ene-3-one-21-aldehyde (16) (Scheme 2). Compound 16 was treated with sodium acetate, and acetic anhydride to obtain the mixture of monoenol ester (17) and diesteres (18) at heating conditions. Further, an oxidation reaction was performed using ozone gas to break the side chain at low temperature and obtain the final product, progesterone (4) [27]. ...
Phytosterols are bioactive substances naturally found in plant cell membranes, and their chemical structure is comparable to cholesterol found in mammalian cells. They are widely distributed in plant foods like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Amongst the variety of phytosterols, stigmasterol is the vital compound found abundantly in plants. Numerous hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, corticoids and androgen, are synthesized by stigmasterol. Multiple in-vitro and in-vivo investigations have shown that stigmasterol has various biological effects, including antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, respiratory diseases, and lipid-lowering effects. Experimental research on stigmasterol provides indisputable proof that this phytosterol has the potential to be employed in supplements used to treat the illnesses mentioned above. This substance has a high potential, making it a noteworthy medication in the future. Although several researchers have investigated this phytosterol to assess its prospective qualities, it has not yet attained therapeutic levels, necessitating additional clinical studies. This review offers a comprehensive update on stigmasterol, including chemical framework, biosynthesis, synthetic derivatives, extraction and isolation, analytical aspects, pharmacological profile, patent status, clinical trials, stability and specifications as per regulatory bodies.
... The data in the literature on the sterol content in apples typically describe β-sitosteroldominated patterns. The amount of this compound in fresh apples is in the range of 79-157 µg g −1 [34][35][36][37], while in pomace, it is 1147 µg g −1 [27]. Campesterol is typically the second most abundant sterol, although its levels are more than an order of magnitude lower [35,36]. ...
... The amount of this compound in fresh apples is in the range of 79-157 µg g −1 [34][35][36][37], while in pomace, it is 1147 µg g −1 [27]. Campesterol is typically the second most abundant sterol, although its levels are more than an order of magnitude lower [35,36]. The pattern of sterols in our samples was similar to the findings in the literature; however, the amounts expressed per weight of sample were much lower. ...
Triterpenoids are a group of secondary plant metabolites, with a remarkable pharmacological potential, occurring in the cuticular waxes of the aerial parts of plants. The aim of this study was to analyze triterpenoid variability in the fruits and leaves of three apple cultivars during the growing season and gain new insights into their health-promoting properties and fate during juice and purée production. The identification and quantification of the compounds of interest were conducted using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The waxes of both matrices contained similar analytes; however, their quantitative patterns varied: triterpenic acids prevailed in the fruits, while higher contents of steroids and esterified forms were observed in the leaves. The total triterpenoid content per unit area was stable during the growing season; the percentage of esters increased in the later phases of growth. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated with a series of in vitro assays. Triterpenoids were found to be the main anti-inflammatory compounds in the apples, while their impact on antioxidant capacity was minor. The apples were processed on a lab scale to obtain juices and purées. The apple purée and cloudy juice contained only some of the triterpenoids present in the raw fruit, while the clear juices were virtually free of those lipophilic compounds.
... In agreement with the present study, β-sitosterol is reported as the most dominating phytosterol in fruits and vegetables, except for spinach and a few others [33]. In spinach, 102 µg/g FW of total phytosterols were reported by Piironen et al. [33], with the dominance of spinasterol (62%) and dihydrospinasterol (27%). ...
... In agreement with the present study, β-sitosterol is reported as the most dominating phytosterol in fruits and vegetables, except for spinach and a few others [33]. In spinach, 102 µg/g FW of total phytosterols were reported by Piironen et al. [33], with the dominance of spinasterol (62%) and dihydrospinasterol (27%). Interestingly, we also recorded 109.9 µg/g FW of total phytosterols in spinach with the α-spinasterol and 22,23dihydrospinasterol. ...
Green leafy vegetables (GLVs), especially lettuce and spinach, are the key source of bioactive antioxidants in a diet. This research compared the contents and composition of lettuce and spinach bioactive compounds with emerging GLVs, moringa and fenugreek. Liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) with single ion monitoring (SIM) was used to examine carotenoids and tocols, while phytosterols were examined using gas chromatography (GC)-MS. Among the studied GLVs, the (all-E)-lutein was the most dominating carotenoid ranging between 31.3 (green/red lettuce)–45.3 % (fenugreek) of total carotenoids, followed by (all-E)-violaxanthin and (all-E)-β-carotene. Surprisingly, (all-E)-β-carotene, a provitamin A carotenoid, was the second most dominating carotenoid in moringa, accounting for 109.2 µg/g fresh weight (FW). Moreover, the significantly highest (p < 0.05; Tukey HSD) contents of total carotenoids (473.3 µg/g FW), α-tocopherol (83.7 µg/g FW), and total phytosterols (206.4 µg/g FW) were recorded in moringa. Therefore, moringa foliage may serve as an affordable source of nutritionally vital constituents in a diet.
... These substances, which are often referred to as phytochemicals, consist of steroids, organic acids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids. In general, plant sterols are useful substances that can only be found in plants (Piironen et al., 2003). Plant sterols, or phytosterols, are structural elements of the cell membrane that help control the membrane's permeability and fluidity. ...
... to 92%, respectively (Piironen et al., 2003). In vegetable oils, the proportion of β-sitosterol in total sterols ranges from 38% to 61% (Lima & Block, 2019). ...
Sitosterol is a major bioactive constituent and the most abundant phytosterol in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. It is structurally similar to cholesterol, except for the addition of the ethyl group. The primary benefit of β‐sitosterol is that it lowers the body's absorption of low‐density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol. Research efforts to date and information from the available literature have demonstrated that β‐sitosterol has many pharmacological benefits to improve human health; it effectively prevents heart diseases, cancer, and diabetes. To date, many investigations on β‐sitosterol have been conducted in in vitro and in vivo studies. There are considerable research gaps because there are almost no clinical studies to examine the safety and effectiveness of β‐sitosterol for various human diseases. This review aims to discuss the dietary sources and variations of β‐sitosterol in food crops and how it can successfully prevent cancer and diabetes, including the mechanism underlying these benefits. In addition, we also discuss the research gaps and provide our perspective on future research to propose β‐sitosterol as a nutraceutical candidate to prevent human diseases.
... Results obtained from chemical and sensorial data fusion showed that cheeses made with kiwifruit coagulant are more similar to cheeses made with animal rennet than those made with microbial coagulant. However, group H differs from group C in the presence of the phytosterols Campesterol, Stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, which are the most abundant sterols in kiwifruit (Piironen et al., 2003). Sterols are produced by plants and have functions like those of cholesterol in humans. ...
... The cholesterol lowering effects of plant steroids is not limited to those with hyper cholesterolemia or CHD but also healthy persons with II diabetes, and postmenopausal women and cancer have also benefited from consuming plant steroid. 82 The saponin content of fresh Cocoyam inflorescence was 85.72%. There were significant decreases in the saponin content of the processed samples. ...
Phytochemical, Vitamins and Toxic level of processed Cocoyam inflorescence were determined. Samples of cocoyam inflorescence were processed by blanching, soaking, Boiling, sun drying, and oven drying. Fresh sample of Cocoyam inflorescence was analyzed and stands as the control. All the chemical analysis was determined, using standard analytical method. Processing methods caused significant (p<0.05) reduction on the Vitamins, phytochemical composition and toxic components of cocoyam inflorescence. Pro vitamin A content of fresh sample was 348.91µg/dl while Vit. E, B2 and C were 16.82, 12.59 and 27.21 mg/100g respectively. The fresh sample showed 114.01, 586, 1.52, 36.07, 254.24, 32.27 and 32.87% respectively for flavonoid, carotenoid, phenol, oxalate, steroid, phytate and alkaloid contents. Water blanching and oven drying showed significantly (p<0.05) reduction in Vit. E, B2, C and pro vit A by 83.5, 79.1, 98.6 and 95% respectively. Boiling and sun drying caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in alkaloid, flavonoid, carotenoid, saponin, phenol, oxalate, steroids, phytate and tannin content by 95.8, 83.2, 94.4, 74.6, 45.4, 43.1, 87.2 and 97.8% respectively. These results showed that fresh Cocoyam inflorescence contains appreciable amount of vitamins with moderate level of phytochemicals. The highest dosage of 5000 mg/kg body weight of cocoyam inflorescence extract had no significant (p<0.05) toxic effect on the tested animals. Petroleum ether extract showed the presence of rich variety of the secondary metabolites. Boiling with sun drying showed higher losses of vitamins and phytochemical composition of Cocoyam inflorescence while boiling with oven drying showed better retention of these bioactive components in Cocoyam inflorescence.
... They consist of a steroid backbone with a saturated linkage between the C-5 and C-6 of the sterol moiety. They contain a hydroxyl group at the C-3 atom and an aliphatic side chain at the C17 atom (Piironen et al. 2003, Fassbender, et al. 2008Salehi et al. 2021). Eleven steroid chemical components have been identified and isolated from different parts of G. bonduc. ...
Guilandinabonduc L. is popularly known as a fever nut that grows widely in evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests with a pantropical distribution. The plant is highly therapeutic in various systems of medicine, including Ayurveda, Siddha, and homeopathy. The purpose of this review is to analyze the published data on G. bonduc, including traditional uses, taxonomic position, botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and toxicological assessment of its various parts. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies were the main focus of this review. The previously published research on G. bonduc was tracked from scientific databases such as Online Library, Google, Taylor and Francis, PubMed, Research Gate, Scopus, Springer, Wiley, Web of Sciences. Numerous phytochemical, pharmaceutical, and pharmacological studies have been carried out on the various parts of G. bonduc. To date, more than 97 phytochemicals have been isolated from the leaves, roots, stems, stem bark, flowers, twigs, and seeds of this plant. The phytochemicals isolated from the plants are flavonoids, homoisoflavonoids, terpenoids, diterpenoids, steroids, fatty acids, alkanes, acids, phenols, ketones, esters, amides, azides, silanes, and ether groups. This plant has been extensively studied in in vitro and in vivo pharmacological experiments, where it showed analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antidiabetic, abortive, anticataleptic, immunomodulatory, and antiestrogenic effects. This comprehensive review revealed that phytochemicals isolated from various parts of G. bonduc have significant therapeutic efficacy, with promising anticancer, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. This review provides a good source of information for the development of a drug using modern scientific tools, in view of its underexplored traditional uses. Further studies on preclinical and clinical trials and toxicological studies on the bioactive molecules of G. bonduc to validate its traditional uses are warranted.
... Plant sterols are naturally occurring bioactive compounds in plant materials [21,22]. They are highly present in lipid-rich plant foods such as nuts, seeds, legumes, and olive oil and have been shown to elicit a broad range of pharmacological activities, such as antiallergy, antitumor [23], antimalarial, antiobesity, antimicrobial [24], antidepressant [25], antinociceptive [26], and antileishmanial activities [27], cardiovascular protection [28], and antiaging and hepatoprotective activities [29]. ...
Medicines for chronic inflammation can cause gastric ulcers and hepatic and renal issues. An alternative treatment for chronic inflammation is that of natural bioactive compounds, which present low side effects. Extracts of Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity; however, testing pure compounds would be of greater interest. Campesteryl palmitate, n-heptyl ferulate, palmitic acid, and a mixture of sterols, i.e., brassicasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were obtained from an ethyl acetate extract from J. cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. bark using column chromatography. The toxicity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. None of the products assessed exhibited toxicity. The sterol mixture exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than the positive control, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition percentages were 37.97% and 41.68% at 22.5 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, n-heptyl ferulate decreased NO by 30.61% at 30 μg/mL, while campesteryl palmitate did not show anti-inflammatory activity greater than the positive control. The mixture and n-heptyl ferulate showed NO inhibition; hence, we may conclude that these compounds have anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore the therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds and their efficacy in treating chronic inflammation.
... Phytosterols, including campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol, are cholesterol-like compounds with a steroid skeleton found in plants, fruits, and vegetables [78]. Phytosterols have been shown to have pleiotropic effects with hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties among others [79]. ...
Lipid metabolism plays a major role in the regulation of the immune system. Exogenous (dietary and microbial-derived) and endogenous (non-microbial-derived) lipids play a direct role in regulating immune cell activation, differentiation and expansion, and inflammatory phenotypes. Understanding the complexities of lipid–immune interactions may have important implications for human health, as certain lipids or immune pathways may be beneficial in circumstances of acute infection yet detrimental in chronic inflammatory diseases. Further, there are key differences in the lipid effects between specific immune cell types and location (e.g., gut mucosal vs. systemic immune cells), suggesting that the immunomodulatory properties of lipids may be tissue-compartment-specific, although the direct effect of dietary lipids on the mucosal immune system warrants further investigation. Importantly, there is recent evidence to suggest that lipid–immune interactions are dependent on sex, metabolic status, and the gut microbiome in preclinical models. While the lipid–immune relationship has not been adequately established in/translated to humans, research is warranted to evaluate the differences in lipid–immune interactions across individuals and whether the optimization of lipid–immune interactions requires precision nutrition approaches to mitigate or manage disease. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which lipids regulate immune responses and the influence of dietary lipids on these processes, highlighting compelling areas for future research.
... Among them, β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol are the major phytosterols, sharing a similar C5 double bond with cholesterol. As the end products of plant sterol biosynthetic pathways (Fig. 1), these three often comprise 70-90% of the total sterol profile, while the remaining sterols occur at very low or trace levels (Piironen et al. 2003;Schaller 2004). ...
All eukaryotes use sterols as structural components in cell membranes and as precursors for key hormones. However, arthropods are unique among eukaryotes because they cannot synthesize sterols de novo and must acquire sterols through diet. Cholesterol is the dominant sterol in most insects; however, because plants contain little cholesterol, most insect herbivores convert phytosterols to cholesterol. An additional challenge for plant-feeding insects is that only limited types of phytosterols can be converted to cholesterol. In this study, we used RNA interference to modify the plant sterol profile to generate phytosterols that would negatively impact insect herbivores. Specifically, we knocked down the expression of Arabidopsis thaliana Δ⁸–Δ⁷-sterol isomerase gene (HYD1), responsible for the conversion of Δ⁸-sterols into Δ⁷-sterols. Silenced lines with > 95% transcript reduction showed drastically reduced sterol production and approximately half of the total sterols had a Δ⁸-configuration. Importantly, these sterol-modified lines exhibited normal growth compared to controls. In contract, the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) larvae reared on sterol-modified plants showed reduced growth and survival, while adults showed significantly decreased egg production. Sterol analysis of P. xylostella adults suggests these negative effects were likely a result of reduced cholesterol and the accumulation of Δ⁸-sterols. Finally, we modeled the effects of sterol-modified plants at the population level using our growth and reproductive data. We observed reduced population size and extended generation time after only two generations. Collectively, our results suggest that modifying plant sterols has potential for management of pest caterpillars, including the globally distributed P. xylostella.
... They also protect keratinocytes from induced peroxidative stress 12 . Campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol are the most abundant PS in almost all plant products 13,14 . The latter are integral natural components of plant cell membranes. ...
Quantitative and qualitative changes in the composition of some phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol) and non-steroidal compounds such as β-amyrin and betulin obtained from seeds of Coriandrum sativum L. Armenian population in relation to plant germination time were studied. Non-germinated seeds (Group I), seeds germinated for two days (Group II), four days (Group III) and eight days (Group IV) were used. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the biological mixtures obtained was studied by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. A certain dependence on the duration of the plant growth and development processes was observed in the chromatographic indices of the compounds, in particular the peak area.
... Similarly, Klippel et al. [113] conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating 130 mg β-sitosterol daily in 177 patients with BPH for six months. βsitosterol treatment improved International Prostate Symptom Score scores and the Boyarsky quality of life score, increased the peak urinary flow, and decreased the residual urine volume compared with the placebo [114]. A systematic review that included additional studies found that β-sitosterol treatments were well tolerated and improved urinary symptoms and flow in men with mild to moderate BPH [110]. ...
Avocados (Persea americana) are a unique fruit that can provide health benefits when included in a healthy diet. As health care moves towards precision health and targeted therapies or preventative medicine, it is critical to understand foods and their dietary components. The nutritional composition and plant physiology of the Hass avocado is strikingly different from other fruits. This paper reviews the nutrient and bioactive composition of the edible portion of the Hass avocado (pulp) reported in the literature and from commercial lab analyses of the current market supply of fresh Hass avocados. These results provide comprehensive data on what nutrients and bioactives are in avocado and the quantity of these nutrients. We discuss the reasons for nutrient composition variations and review some potential health benefits of bioactive compounds found in Hass avocados.
... Broadly, plant sterols are functional ingredients solely obtained from plant resources. 7 The rapid growth of chronic diseases, including cancer, is one of the most difficult issues for public health systems in underdeveloped and developing countries due to its growing prevalence, mortality rate, and high treatment costs. 8 It remains not only a cause of tremendous damage to health, but also the second leading cause of morbidity worldwide. ...
... Phytosterols are known to decrease plasma cholesterol, mainly atherogenic lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol. Campesterol and β-sitosterol were the main phytosterols in mature white and red cabbage [53,55]. The results of phytosterols from white and red cabbage microgreens grown under three LED lights are presented in Table 8. β-Sitosterol was present in all analyzed microgreens, and campesterol was identified only in both types of microgreens growing under white light with the addition of red light. ...
Microgreens are environmentally friendly and have health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional contents. The effect of white (W), white–blue (W + B), and white–red (W + R) light on the bioactive compounds, nutrient composition, and antioxidant potential of red and white cabbage microgreens were investigated using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The results showed that protein, fat, ash, chlorophylls, and carotenoids were the highest in microgreens under W light, while phenolic compounds were highest in microgreens under W + B light. Supplementation with white light, as well as red or blue light, resulted in higher levels of sugars and total fiber in both white and red microgreens. Twenty-six and thirty-three phenolic compounds were identified in white and red cabbage microgreens, respectively. The identified phenolics belonged to three classes, including phenolic acids, flavonols, and anthocyanins. The antioxidant potential of both cabbage microgreens was determined by four methods (ABTS, DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP). It was found that the highest antioxidant potential was observed in microgreens grown under the W + B light combination. On the other hand, the W + R light combination increased the content of β-sitosterol and campesterol. The results may be helpful in the selection of the type of LED lighting that determines the high nutritional and health-promoting potential of white and red cabbage microgreens.
... One example of such components is steroid-like compounds, which have been shown to remain in the digestate after anaerobic digestion in significant amounts (Ahmad & Eskicioglu, 2019;Lu, Sun, et al., 2018;Lu, Xiao, et al., 2018;Tambone et al., 2010). Since neither bacteria nor archaea typically involved in the biogas process synthesize steroids de novo (Wei et al., 2016), these steroids are presumably introduced into the fermentation process with the plant-and animal-based feedstocks, which can contain relevant amounts of phytosterols and cholesterol respectively (Piironen et al., 2003;Ryan et al., 2007;Tyagi et al., 2007). Although a range of denitrifying bacteria are able to fully degrade sterols under anoxic conditions (Ismail & Chiang, 2011;Warnke et al., 2017), it is not known whether sterol degradation can also occur under fermentative and methanogenic conditions, and detailed information about steroid concentrations and about the fate of steroids in the biogas process is still scarce. ...
Every year, several million tonnes of anaerobic digestate are produced worldwide as a by‐product of the biogas industry, most of which is applied as agricultural fertilizer. However, in the context of a circular bioeconomy, more sustainable uses of residual digestate biomass would be desirable. This study investigates the fate of the sterol lipids β‐sitosterol and cholesterol from the feedstocks to the final digestates of three agricultural and one biowaste biogas plants to assess if sterols are degraded during anaerobic digestion or if they remain in the digestate, which could provide a novel opportunity for digestate cascade valorization. Gas chromatographic analyses showed that feedstock sterols were not degraded during anaerobic digestion, resulting in their accumulation in the digestates to up to 0.15% of the dry weight. The highest concentrations of around 1440 mg β‐sitosterol and 185 mg cholesterol per kg dry weight were found in liquid digestate fractions, suggesting partial sterol solubilization. Methanogenic batch cultures spiked with β‐sitosterol, cholesterol, testosterone and β‐oestradiol confirmed that steroids persist during anaerobic digestion. Mycobacterium neoaurum was able to transform digestate sterols quantitatively into androstadienedione, a platform chemical for steroid hormones, without prior sterol extraction or purification. These results suggest that digestate from agricultural and municipal biowaste is an untapped resource for natural sterols for biotechnological applications, providing a new strategy for digestate cascade valorization beyond land application.
... In fact, it is impossible to distinguish isomers such as stigmasterol and Δ 7 -avenasterol in MRM analysis. However, in terms of these two isobaric sterols, listed features in Table S1 and S2 were annotated as stigmasterols, because they are the second most important sterols (Piironen et al. 2003). ...
The quantitative freshness assessment method for vegetables is desired to upgrade the quality management system in agricultural distribution chain. Since lipid has broad diversity in species and plays an important role in the biological metabolism of plants, there is a possibility that lipid profile indicates the freshness of harvested vegetables. The aims of this study were to clarify the lipidomic alteration of stored cabbage and identify lipid molecules indicative of freshness. Cabbage leaves stored at 5 °C, 10 °C, and 20 °C were sampled periodically for lipidomic analysis by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The cumulative respiratory CO2 production was determined using a flow-through method via gas chromatography. A total of 74 lipid species had a significant correlation with cumulative CO2 production. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) clustered them into three main groups. A partial least squares regression (PLSR) model established the relationship between the abundance of lipid species and the cumulative CO2 production. Four lipid molecules were selected as potential freshness markers. The PLSR model with the selected markers had a better performance in predicting the cumulative CO2 production than that by ascorbic acid which is conventionally used as a quality indicator of fresh produce. Our results show that lipidomic profiling could be viable for assessing the freshness of whole cabbage.
... Sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol are the major sterols in common vegetables and seeds, whereas α-spinasterol is not detectable or present only in traces (Piironen, Toivo, Puupponen-Pimia, & Lampi, 2003). However, α-spinasterol was the major phytosterol in pumpkin and watermelon seeds, argon (Argania spinosa) seed oil and spinach (Wang et al., 2019). ...
α‐Spinasterol is a phytosterol found in various edible and non‐edible plant sources. The edible plant materials containing α‐spinasterol include spinach leaves, cucumber fruits, seeds of pumpkin and watermelon, argan seed oil, cactus pear seed oil and Amaranthus sp. It is a bioavailable nutraceutical, and it can cross the blood–brain barrier. It possesses several important pharmacological properties such as anti‐diabetes mellitus, antiinflammation, hypolipidemic, antiulcer, neuroprotection, anti‐pain and antitumour activities. For this review, literature search was made focusing on the pharmacological properties of α‐spinasterol using PubMed and Google Scholar data bases. Recent studies show the promising antidiabetic properties of α‐spinasterol. Its anti‐diabetic mechanisms include enhancement of insulin secretion, reduction in insulin resistance, anti‐diabetic nephropathy, increase in glucose uptake in muscle cells and inhibition of glucose absorption from intestine. Besides, it is a safe antiinflammatory agent, and its antiinflammatory mechanisms include inhibition of cyclooxygenases, antagonism of TRPV1 receptor and attenuation of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators. It is a promising and safe nutraceutical molecule for human health care. Food supplements, value‐added products and nutraceutical formulations can be developed with α‐spinasterol for the management of diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases and improving general health. This review provides all scattered pharmacological studies on α‐spinasterol in one place and highlights its immense value for human health care.
... The phytosterols and protein concentration of the orange juice used in this study is 0.2 -0.3 mg/mL and 0.8 -1.0 mg/mL respectively, as described previously in (Abd-Razak et al., 2020). These values are in agreement with previous studies (Piironen et al., 2003;Jiménez-Escrig et al., 2006). ...
A straightforward approach is presented to prepare highly hydrophilic ultrafiltration polyaniline poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (PANI PAMPSA) membranes. Their application in the fractionation of phytosterols and proteins from fruit juice is described. Poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic (PAMPSA) is added to aniline during the polymer synthesis and the membrane is prepared via phase inversion forming a highly hydrophilic and mechanically stable ultrafiltration membrane of 200 µm thickness and pure water flux of 126 LMH at 1 bar. The membrane so produced is benchmarked against a hydrophilic commercial regenerated cellulose acetate membrane (RCA) for the separation of phytosterols and proteins from orange juice. Cross-flow filtration experiments show comparable protein separation efficiency of the membranes, but better rejection of phytosterols for the commercial RCA membrane. Both commercial and lab prepared membranes are subject to fouling, with the PANI PAMPSA membrane showing higher irreversible fouling. Nevertheless, the PANI PAMPSA membrane showed a good cleaning efficiency of 74% after three fouling-cleaning cycles. Overall, this work has demonstrated the possibility of use PANI PAMPSA for ultrafiltration application and provided a better understanding of its fouling ability when compared to a commercial membrane in a multicomponent system.
... This suggests that intensive land use such as mining may lead to changes in the dominant vegetation in an area, which affects the overall TOC and TN content in these disturbed soils. Brassicasterol is an indicator of inputs from plants in the Brassicaceae family (Schaeffer et al. 2001;Piironen et al. 2003;González-Pérez et al. 2011). Several species from this family are invasive weeds in North America that are well adapted to thrive in cleared areas such as mine pits or along roadsides (Pyšek 1998;Meekins et al. 2001). ...
Organic matter in soils and sediments derives from a mixture of biological origins, often making it difficult to determine inputs from individual sources. Complicating the determination of source inputs to soil and sedimentary organic matter (OM) is the fact that physical and microbial processes have likely modified the initial composition of these sources. This study focused on identifying the composition of watershed-derived OM to better understand inputs to inland waters and improve our ability to resolve between terrigenous and aquatic sources in downstream systems, such as estuaries and coasts. We surveyed OM sources from the Yuba River watershed in northern California to identify specific biomarkers that represent aquatic and terrigenous OM sources. Multiple classes of organic proxies—including sterols, fatty acids (FA), lignin phenols and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values (δ13C, δ15N)—were measured in soils, vegetation, charcoal, and freshwater plankton to characterize representative source endmembers. Sterols—including 27-nor-24-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol and cholesta-5-en-3β-ol, and positive δ15N values—were associated with aquatic OM (plankton, suspended particulate OM), whereas lignin phenols, long chain FA, and diacids characterized terrigenous sources (soils, charcoal, vegetation). Trends in organic carbon and biomarker signatures in soil samples showed a response to environmental disturbance (i.e., mining, agriculture) through an inverse relationship between OM content and land use. Results from this study demonstrate the utility of multi-biomarker studies for distinguishing between OM from different sources and land uses, offering new insights for biogeochemical studies in aquatic systems.
... This suggests that intensive land use such as mining may lead to changes in the dominant vegetation in an area, which affects the overall TOC and TN content in these disturbed soils. Brassicasterol is an indicator of inputs from plants in the Brassicaceae family (Schaeffer et al. 2001;Piironen et al. 2003;González-Pérez et al. 2011). Several species from this family are invasive weeds in North America that are well adapted to thrive in cleared areas such as mine pits or along roadsides (Pyšek 1998;Meekins et al. 2001). ...
Organic matter in soils and sediments derives from a mixture of biological origins, often making it difficult to determine inputs from individual sources. Complicating the determination of source inputs to soil and sedimentary organic matter (OM) is the fact that physical and microbial processes have likely modified the initial composition of these sources. This study focused on identifying the composition of watershed-derived OM to better understand inputs to inland waters and improve our ability to resolve between terrigenous and aquatic sources in downstream systems, such as estuaries and coasts. We surveyed OM sources from the Yuba River watershed in northern California to identify specific biomarkers that represent aquatic and terrigenous OM sources. Multiple classes of organic proxies—including sterols, fatty acids (FA), lignin phenols and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values (δ13C, δ15N)—were measured in soils, vegetation, charcoal, and freshwater plankton to characterize representative source endmembers. Sterols—including 27-nor-24-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol and cholesta-5-en-3β-ol, and positive δ15N values—were associated with aquatic OM (plankton, suspended particulate OM), whereas lignin phenols, long chain FA, and diacids characterized terrigenous sources (soils, charcoal, vegetation). Trends in organic carbon and biomarker signatures in soil samples showed a response to environmental disturbance (i.e., mining, agriculture) through an inverse relationship between OM content and land use. Results from this study demonstrate the utility of multi-biomarker studies for distinguishing between OM from different sources and land uses, offering new insights for biogeochemical studies in aquatic systems.
... In mammals, the main sterol is cholesterol, while ergosterol is preponderant in fungi. Phytosterols are plant sterols, the major examples being β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol [7][8][9]. ...
Responsible for plasma membrane structure maintenance in eukaryotic organisms, sterols are essential for yeast development. The role of two sterol sources in Saccharomyces cerevisiae during wine fermentation is highlighted in this review: ergosterol (yeast sterol produced by yeast cells under aerobic conditions) and phytosterols (plant sterols imported by yeast cells from grape musts in the absence of oxygen). These compounds are responsible for the maintenance of yeast cell viability during white wine fermentation under stress conditions, such as ethanol stress and sterol starvation, to avoid sluggish and stuck fermentations.
... Over 40 phytosterols, including sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol occurred in all higher plants, while others such as brassicasterol, were familyor species-specific [33]. Cereals and oilseed plants had significant levels of phytosterols, while levels in vegetables or nuts were considerably lower [34]. Cow manure may contain phytosterols derived from cereals or oilseed plants eaten by the animal. ...
Background
The rhizosphere is the narrow zone of soil immediately surrounding the root, and it is a critical hotspot of microbial activity, strongly influencing the physiology and development of plants. For analyzing the relationship between the microbiome and metabolome in the rhizosphere of tea ( Camellia sinensis ) plants, the bacterial composition and its correlation to soil metabolites were investigated under three different fertilization treatments (unfertilized, urea, cow manure) in different growing seasons (spring, early and late summer).
Results
The bacterial phyla Proteobacteria , Bacteroidetes , Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria dominated the rhizosphere of tea plants regardless of the sampling time. These indicated that the compositional shift was associated with different fertilizer/manure treatments as well as the sampling time. However, the relative abundance of these enriched bacteria varied under the three different fertilizer regimes. Most of the enriched metabolic pathways stimulated by different fertilizer application were all related to sugars, amino acids fatty acids and alkaloids metabolism. Organic acids and fatty acids were potential metabolites mediating the plant-bacteria interaction in the rhizosphere. Bacteria in the genera Proteiniphilum , Fermentimonas and Pseudomonas in spring, Saccharimonadales and Gaiellales in early summer, Acidobacteriales and Gaiellales in late summer regulated relative contents of organic and fatty acids.
Conclusion
This study documents the profound changes to the rhizosphere microbiome and bacterially derived metabolites under different fertilizer regimes and provides a conceptual framework towards improving the performance of tea plantations.
... The sterols were derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) containing 1% of trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) in pyridine (Piironen V., et al., 2003). ...
The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and convenient chromatographic method for authenticity control of vegetable oils using the total sterol profile determined by gas-chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detector (FID). Two pure oils, rapeseed and olive oil, processed by minimal technologies (cold pressing) in Romania and an adulterated olive oil with 40 % of rapeseed oil were used as sample matrices in the method development. The rapeseed oil can be identified by the presence of brassicasterol (see peak number 2 in Figure 2.) which is characteristic mainly for this oil. In olive oil, this sterol is absent. The concentrations of b-sitosterol, campesterol and brassicasterol as well their ratios can identify the adulteration of virgine olive oil with rapeseed oil. High ratios b-sitosterol/ campesterol are specific to virgin olive oil (~ 27.5) while these ratios are low (~2) for rapeseed oil or adulterated olive oil. Also the ratio campesterol / brassicasterol can indicate the adulteration. This ratio is low (~2) for rapeseed oil and higher (~ 4.8) in extra virgin olive oil. Adulteration of olive oil with rapeseed oil determine the decrease of this ratio. In this work we report three ways to identify the quality and authenticity of olive oil. We found as well markers which indicate if the olive oil was adulterated with rapeseed oil.
Horticulture crops possess numerous functional properties with the potential to yield nutritional constituents or nutraceuticals, making them exemplary examples of edible plant harvests. Nutrients and secondary metabolites derived from various parts of horticulture crops exhibit several health-promoting properties. Nutrients, also referred to as primary metabolites, encompass carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins. These play crucial roles in various biological processes such as protein synthesis, hormone synthesis, respiration, photosynthesis, and growth and development. In contrast, secondary metabolites, including phenolic/polyphenolic compounds, alkaloids, terpenoids, and sulfur-containing compounds, do not directly contribute to the development and growth of plants. Instead, they serve as defenders against microorganisms, function as signal molecules under stress conditions, attract pollinators, and determine the color of different horticulture crops. Consequently, the beneficial effects of the diverse nutrients and secondary metabolites present in horticulture crops for their health-promoting properties continue to garner increasing attention. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in advancing techniques for the extraction, separation, and quantification of these valuable bioactive components from horticulture crops. This is to facilitate their use as value-added ingredients in the nutraceutical and food industries. This chapter provides comprehensive information on advanced analytical techniques for the analysis of nutrients and secondary metabolites in different horticulture crops.
Wild blackberries (Rubus) are fruits that grow in inaccessible high mountain areas, which has made it difficult to study their chemical and nutritional composition. The objective of this research was to evaluate the nutritional composition and the macro-and micro-nutrient profile of wild species of fruits of the Rubus genus collected in Sinaloa, Mexico. Botanical samples of wild Rubus were identified and deposited in the Herbarium of the Institute of Biology of the UNAM. Subsequently, the chemical composition the profile of carbohydrates, lipids and minerals were evaluated. Wild Rubus species were identified as R. liebmannii, R. coriifolius and R. palmeri. In addition, it was found that R. liebmannii is the first time it has been recorded for the state of Sinaloa. Likewise, the results show that carbohydrates represent the largest proportion of the macro-components (85 %, glucose and fructose); they have a high content of fatty acids (such as linolenic acid) and are rich sources of minerals (such as K, Ca and Mg). The results of this research could be relevant to be used in the genetic improvement of commercial species that currently exist in the market. Resumen. Las zarzamoras silvestres (Rubus) son frutos que se desarrollan en zonas de alta montaña poco accesibles, lo que ha dificultado el estudio de su composición química y nutricional. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la composición nutricional y el perfil de macro y micronutrientes de especies silvestres de frutos del género Rubus colectadas en Sinaloa, México. Muestras botánicas de Rubus silvestres fueron identificadas y depositadas en el Herbario del Insituto de Biología de la UNAM. Posteriormente se les evaluó la composicón química, el perfil de perfil de carbohidratos, lípidos y minerales. Las especies silvestres de Rubus fueron identificadas como Rubus liebmannii, Rubus coriifolius y Rubus palmeri. Además, se encontró que Rubus liebmannii, es la primera vez que se registra para el estado de Sinaloa. Asimismo, los resultados muestran que los carbohidratos representan la mayor proporción de los macro-componentes (85 %, glucosa y fructosa); tiene un alto contenido de ácidos grasos (como ácido linolénico) y son fuentes ricas de minerales (como K, Ca y Mg). Los resultados de la presente investigación podrían ser de relevancia para ser utilizados en el mejoramiento genético de especies comerciales que actualmente existen en el mercado.
Current oral medications for type 2 diabetes target a single main physiological mechanism. They either activate or inhibit receptors to enhance insulin sensitivity, increase insulin secretion, inhibit glucose absorption, or inhibit glucose production. In advanced stages, combination therapy may be required because of the limited efficacy of single-target drugs; however, medications are becoming more costly, and there is also the risk of developing the combined side effects of each drug. Thus, identifying a multi-target drug may be the best strategy to improve treatment efficacy. This study sees the potential of 2657 Filipino phytochemicals as a source of natural inhibitors against four targets of diabetes: PTP1B, DPP-4, SGLT-2, and FBPase. Different computer-aided drug discovery techniques, including ADMET profiling, DFT optimization, molecular docking, MD simulations, and MM/PBSA energy calculations, were employed to elucidate the stability and determine the binding affinity of the candidate ligands. Through in silico methods, we have identified seven potential natural inhibitors against PTP1B, DPP-4, and FBPase, and ten against SGLT-2. Eight plants containing at least one natural inhibitor of each protein target were also identified. It is recommended to further investigate the plants’ potential to be transformed into a safe and scientifically validated multi-target drug for diabetes therapies.
Over the last decades, global concerns regarding possible adverse health effects of chemical pollutants on the hormonal systems of living organisms in wildlife and humans are constantly growing. Endocrine-active and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) belong to a heterogeneous class of exogenous chemicals, including various persistent anthropogenic contaminants, pesticides, distinct substances used in consumer products, and also natural compounds. Exposure through the food chain is considered essential for most EDC, while they may enter the food chain as residues from animal- or plant-based food production (e.g. pesticides or pharmaceutical residues), may be released from food contact materials, may be present due to natural contamination (e.g. mycoestrogens), may enter via a polluted environment and also as natural plant food ingredients (e.g. phytoestrogens). The complexity of the subject is due to: a) the ubiquitous occurrence and hardly possible avoidance of many substances with supposed endocrine properties, b) the scientific disagreement among experts and the huge number of partly controversial study outcomes and c) the increasing pressure of the public, necessitating a higher level of transparency and clear-cut orientation with respect to avoidance and reduction strategies.In this light, the current review intends to provide an overview of the historical and regulatory developments regarding the topic of EDC, discusses the important difference between endocrine-active and disruptive substances and presents some key characteristics of endocrine acting substances for a better understanding of their relevance for the food chain including possible long-term effects, windows of sensitivity, low-dose and possible “cocktail” effects. In addition, a comprehensive overview on the different exposure paths of endocrine-active and disruptive substances in the food chain is given, with both a focus on naturally occurring food ingredients and possible contaminations from external sources.
There is a continued increase in the global population, which has resulted in a concomitant increase in the demand for nutritious foods such as foods that are high in protein for human consumption. Animal-based proteins have been used in the food industry due to their functional properties such as gelation, foaming, and emulsification. Animal-based proteins however contribute to an increased carbon footprint and the resultant impact on the environment. In view of sustainability, there has been a gradual move from the consumption of animal-based foods to plant-based foods. Plant-based foods are associated with a myriad of health and nutritional benefits that include a reduction in obesity and several cancers in addition to the reduction in the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Some of these beneficial effects of plant-based foods are attributed to the presence of phytochemicals and phytonutrients in these foods. Plant-based foods can however contain several antinutritional factors that can impair the absorption of the health-promoting phytonutrients that are present in these foods. A number of factors such as attitudes and sensory perception do influence consumers' attitudes toward plant-based foods. This book chapter discusses the general consumer expectations, sensory perception, and attitude toward plant-based foods. The general health and nutrition of plant-based foods and ingredients are discussed, the antinutritional aspect of plant-based foods elucidated, and the impact of antinutrients on human health outlined.
In recent years, there is an increasing interest on the plant-based nutraceuticals, functional foods, and food supplements as potential agents for the maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment of diseases. Phytochemicals, especially the polyphenols including flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcuminoids, and stilbinoids, are widely studied for their health beneficial properties. Among many other issues, one important issue is the continuous supply of active components in nutraceuticals to meet the market demand. As many phytochemicals present in nutraceuticals are specific to certain plant species, the conservation, cultivation, and sustainable utilization are equally important. Newer biotechnological tools such as tissue and cell culture have potential to provide the necessary amount of the specific nutraceutical compounds in future. For wider application, their chemical classification, biosynthetic routes, potential health beneficial activities, and market trends must be well understood. This chapter focuses mainly on the classification of these compounds, their biosynthesis in plants and role in human health.
Background:
The association of dietary phytosterols intake with survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study was to examine the effect of dietary phytosterols intake on ESCC survival in a Chinese rural population.
Methods:
A total of 942 incident ESCC patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2013 in Yanting area were followed up until March 1st, 2020. Dietary intake five years before ESCC diagnosis was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. The outcome of interest was all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results:
When comparing the highest with lowest intake quartiles, intake of five specific and total phytosterols was not significantly associated with risk of death after adjustment for covariates, the adjusted HR (95% CI) for β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitostanol, campestanol and total phytosterols was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.70-1.16), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.71-1.19), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.66-1.12), 0.93 (95% CI: 0.73-1.20), 0.94 (95% CI: 0.72-1.21), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.69-1.15), respectively.
Conclusion:
This study does not find any association between pre-diagnostic phytosterols intake and risk of all-cause mortality among ESCC patients. Further research is required to determine the effect of post-diagnostic phytosterols intake on ESCC survival.
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a tuber and can be thought of as the most superior of the superfoods. While it is comparable to other roots and tubers in nutrient density, it has a dominant role in global nutrition and health. Today, it is the primary vegetable consumed worldwide and fourth most widely produced crop next to rice, maize, and wheat. The potato breeding and agronomic system has been optimized and currently provides the densest form of calories per area of cultivation. This chapter will discuss why potato is indeed a superfood and is a model for understanding the value of roots and tubers in the food system. It has a fascinating history in its natural evolution and domestication by humans for agriculture, value in maintaining life for the human race, and has a unique chemistry directed by its life cycle and the corresponding value in nutrition and human disease.KeywordsPotatoSolanumTubersHuman healthBioactive compounds
Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) is a major source of vegetable oil in India and cultivated as condiment, vegetable, and oilseed crop in different parts of the world. The seed quality of Indian mustard is mainly determined by the kind and proportion of its key components that include oil, protein and glucosinolates. Traditional mustard oil contains moderate levels of oleic acid which is important for oxidative stability of oil during cooking/storage and almost balanced ratio of nutritionally desirable linoleic and linolenic acids. However, its oil also contains significant proportion of erucic acid which causes serious cardiac problems. This very long chain fatty acid is considered good for various industrial purposes. Defatted seed meal obtained after oil extraction is valued for animal nutrition as a rich source of protein but presence of anti-nutritional components i.e., high glucosionlates limits its utilisation. Therefore, Development of productive germplasm coupled with improved seed quality is a prime breeding objective in mustard breeding. Concomitant improvement for all these interrelated traits is a mammoth task due to their complex inheritance patterns and large environmental influences. In this chapter, we review various conventional breeding approaches along with modern biotechnological interventions to improve the seed quality traits for nutritional and industrial purposes in Indian mustard.
Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading cause of death in the world and different measures have been taken for its control. Synthetic drugs are the preferred remedy for these diseases as well as other pathological complications but severe side effects associated with their use push the scientist to search for alternatives. Among the alternatives, the most favorable choice includes the use of natural sources particularly plant-based biomolecules. These plant-based materials may contain the bioactive having multiple biological potentials that could prevent or treat human disease. There are more than 250 plant-based sterols that differ in their functions and availability but stigmasterol has made its unique place due to its better biological activities. It showed cholesterol-lowering ability, and antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, and antiosteoarthritis properties. Various clinical trials have confirmed their medicinal importance with no or minimum side effects even at higher concentrations. But the effective use of stigmasterol is associated with its challenging isolation and purification from plant extracts as well as its related plant sterols. Therefore, several methods have been tested and used for its commercial and laboratory scale extraction, preparation, and isolation. This chapter has been compiled to discuss the sources, extraction, biological potential, and pharmaceutical applications of stigmasterols.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of prestorage beat treatments on chilling tolerance of tomatoes. Mature-green 'Agriset' tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), either C2H4-treated or not, were immersed in 42C water for 60 min. held in 38C air for 48 hours, or not treated, and then stored at either 2C (chilled) or 13C (nonchilled) for 14 days before ripening at 20C. Heat-treated fruit stored at 2C and transferred to 20C ripened normally While nonheated fruit decayed before reaching red ripe. Color (a*/b* ratio), lycopene content, and internal quality characteristics of fruit were similar at the red-ripe stage irrespective of method of beat treatment. In red-ripe heat-treated fruit, free sterol levels were significantly higher in chilled fruit than in nonchilled fruit. Heating fruit in 38C air resulted in significantly higher levels of some free sterols compared with heating fruit in 42C Mater. Of the 15 flavor volatiles analyzed, six showed significantly decreased concentrations as a result of C2H4,-treatment and seven showed decreased concentrations when stored at 2C before ripening. Some volatiles were decreased by the heat treatments. Prestorage short- and long-term heat treatments could allow for storage of mature-green tomatoes at lower temperatures with little loss of their ability to ripen normally.
Lipid composition and pigment content were determined in pericarp of `Pik Red' tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) that were harvested when mature-green (MG) then ripened for 1 or 14 days at 20C, chilled for 11 or 21 days at 2C, or chilled for 21 days and transferred to 20C for 4 days (rewarmed). During ripening, chlorophyll fell below a detectable level, carotenes increased 100-fold, phospholipids (PLs) dropped ≈20%, and galactolipids (GLs) dropped ≈35%. Fatty-acid unsaturation decreased slightly. Steryl esters (SEs), more than free sterols (FSs) and steryl glycosides (SGs), increased at the expense of acylated steryl glycosides (ASGs), and in all four steryl lipids, the stigmasterol: sitosterol ratio rose dramatically, whereas the level of isofucosterol fell sharply. During chilling, chlorophyll declined ≈40% and carotenes ≈60%. PL content did not change, whereas GL fell ≈15%. Fatty-acid unsaturation increased slightly. FS, much more than SG and SE, increased at the expense of ASG. The stigmasterol: sitosterol ratio changed little in ASG, SG, and SE but declined in FS. Isofucosterol increased in FS and SE. Rewarming had little effect on the levels of chlorophyll, carotenes, or PL levels, but caused GL to fall another ≈15%. Fatty-acid unsaturation decreased slightly in GL and ASG. The distribution of total sterol in ASG, SG, FS, and SE changed dramatically, yielding proportions close to those in unchilled MG fruit. Also, 4 days after rewarming, the stigmasterol: sitosterol ratio had increased sharply, particularly in FS and SE, and there was a further rise in isofucosterol in all four steryl lipids. These results indicate that chloroplast damage occurs during chilling, but PL-rich cell membranes are not degraded, even upon rewarming. Changes in sterol composition and conjugation during chilling and after rewarming could result in membrane dysfunction.
Four varieties (Zutano, Bacon, Fuerte, Lula) of avocado (Persea americana) have been investigated for their unsaponifiable matter (UM) in mature and immature fruits. The UM content in crude oil was
always higher in immature fruits (15–40%vs. 4–9%). The UM was fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography for the determination of total sterols and tocopherol.
The sterol content in the oil was always higher in immature (1.1–6.2%) than in mature (0.8–2.0%) fruits. The tocopherol content
differed with the varieties (10.2–25.0 mg/100 g UM), and the levels in the oil were higher in immature (20.1–45.6 mg/100 g
oil) than in mature (5.7–10.3 mg/100 g oil) fruits.
Dietary plant sterols, especially sitostanol, reduce serum cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol absorption. Soluble sitostanol may be more effective than a less soluble preparation. We tested the tolerability and cholesterol-lowering effect of margarine containing sitostanol ester in a population with mild hypercholesterolemia.
We conducted a one-year, randomized, double-blind study in 153 randomly selected subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia. Fifty-one consumed margarine without sitostanol ester (the control group), and 102 consumed margarine containing sitostanol ester (1.8 or 2.6 g of sitostanol per day).
The margarine containing sitostanol ester was well tolerated. The mean one-year reduction in serum cholesterol was 10.2 percent in the sitostanol group, as compared with an increase of 0.1 percent in the control group. The difference in the change in serum cholesterol concentration between the two groups was -24 mg per deciliter (95 percent confidence interval, -17 to -32; P < 0.001). The respective reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were 14.1 percent in the sitostanol group and 1.1 percent in the control group. The difference in the change in LDL cholesterol concentration between the two groups was -21 mg per deciliter (95 percent confidence interval, -14 to -29; P < 0.001). Neither serum triglyceride nor high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were affected by sitostanol. Serum campesterol, a dietary plant sterol whose levels reflect cholesterol absorption, was decreased by 36 percent in the sitostanol group, and the reduction was directly correlated with the reduction in total cholesterol (r = 0.57, P < 0.001).
Substituting sitostanol-ester margarine for part of the daily fat intake in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia was effective in lowering serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
To examine whether phytosterols in polyunsaturated oils account for their differential action on lipid metabolism compared with monounsaturated oils, 16 normolipidemic individuals consumed three 10-day experimental diets containing corn oil (high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols), olive oil (high in monounsaturated fatty acids and low in phytosterols), or olive oil supplemented with phytosterols given at twice the level naturally found in corn oil (high in monounsaturated fatty acids and phytosterols). Plasma total cholesterol concentrations after both the olive oil and the olive oil-phytosterol treatments were higher (P < 0.001) than those after the corn oil treatment. Olive oil treatment resulted in greater (P < 0.05) plasma LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations compared to corn oil treatment. Addition of the phytosterol mixture to the olive oil diet resulted in suppression of the significant differences in LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations between corn and olive oil. Free cholesterol fractional synthetic rates determined by deuterium incorporation were lower (P < 0.05) with olive oil treatment compared to corn oil treatment; the significance of this difference was abolished with the addition of phytosterols to the olive oil diet. These results suggest that phytosterols are partly responsible for the differences in plasma cholesterol levels and synthesis observed between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated oils.
Full-fat sitostanol ester-containing margarine reduces serum total and LDL cholesterol, but the effect of plant stanol ester-containing margarine as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet has not been studied.
We investigated the cholesterol-lowering effects of 2 novel, low-fat stanol ester-containing margarines as part of a low-fat diet recommended for hypercholesterolemic subjects.
In a parallel, double-blind study, 55 hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomly assigned after a 4-wk high-fat diet (baseline) to 3 low-fat margarine groups: wood stanol ester-containing margarine (WSEM), vegetable oil stanol ester-containing margarine (VOSEM), and control margarine (no stanol esters). The groups consumed the margarines for 8 wk as part of a diet resembling that of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Step II diet. The daily mean total stanol intake was 2.31 and 2.16 g in the WSEM and VOSEM groups, respectively.
During the experimental period, the reduction in serum total cholesterol was 10.6% (P < 0.001) and 8.1% (P < 0.05) greater and in LDL cholesterol was 13.7% (P < 0.01) and 8.6% (P = 0.072) greater in the WSEM and VOSEM groups, respectively, than in the control group. Serum campesterol concentrations decreased 34.5% and 41.3% (P < 0.001) in the WSEM and VOSEM groups, respectively. Serum HDL cholesterol, sitostanol, campestanol, beta-carotene, and fat-soluble vitamin concentrations did not change significantly from baseline.
We conclude that the low-fat, plant stanol ester-containing margarines are effective cholesterol-lowering products in hypercholesterolemic subjects when used as part of a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. They offer an additional, clinically significant reduction in serum cholesterol concentrations to that obtained with a low-fat diet alone.
To investigate the dose-response relationship between cholesterol lowering and three different, relatively low intake levels of plant sterols (0.83, 1.61, 3.24 g/d) from spreads. To investigate the effects on lipid-soluble (pro)vitamins.
A randomized double-blind placebo controlled balanced incomplete Latin square design using five spreads and four periods. The five study spreads included butter, a commercially available spread and three experimental spreads fortified with three different concentrations of plant sterols.
One hundred apparently healthy normocholesterolaemic and mildly hypercholesterolaemic volunteers participated.
Each subject consumed four spreads, each for a period of 3.5 week.
Compared to the control spread, total cholesterol decreased by 0.26 (CI: 0.15-0.36), 0.31 (CI: 0.20-0.41) and 0.35 (CI: 0.25-0.46) mmol/L, for daily consumption of 0.83, 1.61 and 3.24 g plant sterols, respectively. For LDL-cholesterol these decreases were 0.20 (CI: 0.10-0.31), 0.26 (CI: 0.15-0.36) and 0.30 (CI: 0.20-0.41). Decreases in the LDL/HDL ratio were 0.13 (CI: 0.04-0.22), 0.16 (CI: 0.07-0.24) and 0.16 (CI: 0.07-0.24) units, respectively. Differences in cholesterol reductions between the plant sterol doses consumed were not statistically significant. Plasma vitamin K1 and 25-OH-vitamin D and lipid standardized plasma lycopene and alpha-tocopherol were not affected by consumption of plant sterol enriched spreads, but lipid standardized plasma (alpha + beta)-carotene concentrations were decreased by about 11 and 19% by daily consumption of 0.83 and 3.24 g plant sterols in spread, respectively.
The three relatively low dosages of plant sterols had a significant cholesterol lowering effect ranging from 4.9-6.8%, 6.7-9.9% and 6.5-7.9%, for total, LDL-cholesterol and the LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, respectively, without substantially affecting lipid soluble (pro)vitamins. No significant differences in cholesterol lowering effect between the three dosages of plant sterols could be detected. This study would support that consumption of about 1.6 g of plant sterols per day will beneficially affect plasma cholesterol concentrations without seriously affecting plasma carotenoid concentrations.
Dietary plant sterols (phytosterols) have been shown to lower plasma lipid concentrations in animals and humans. However, the effect of phytosterol intake from tall oil on cholesterol and phytosterol metabolism has not been assessed in subjects fed precisely controlled diets.
Our objective was to examine the effects of sitostanol-containing phytosterols on plasma lipid and phytosterol concentrations and de novo cholesterol synthesis rate in the context of a controlled diet.
Thirty-two hypercholesterolemic men were fed either a diet of prepared foods alone or a diet containing 1.7 g phytosterols/d for 30 d in a parallel study design.
No overall effects of diet on total cholesterol concentrations were observed, although concentrations were lower with the phytosterol-enriched than with the control diet on day 30 (P < 0.05). LDL-cholesterol concentrations on day 30 had decreased by 8.9% (P < 0.01) and 24.4% (P < 0.001) with the control and phytosterol-enriched diets, respectively. HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations did not change significantly. Moreover, changes in circulating campesterol and beta-sitosterol concentrations were not significantly different between phytosterol-fed and control subjects. In addition, there were no significant differences in fractional (0.091 +/- 0.028 and 0.091 +/- 0.026 pool/d, respectively) or absolute (0.61 +/- 0.24 and 0.65 +/- 0.23 g/d, respectively) synthesis rates of cholesterol observed between control and phytosterol-fed subjects.
Addition of blended phytosterols to a prudent North American diet improved plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations by mechanisms that did not result in significant changes in endogenous cholesterol synthesis in hypercholesterolemic men.
The effects of a strict uncooked vegan diet on serum lipid and sterol concentrations were studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The subjects were randomized into a vegan diet group (n 16), who consumed a vegan diet for 2-3 months, or into a control group (n 13), who continued their usual omnivorous diets. Serum total and LDL-cholesterol and -phospholipid concentrations were significantly decreased by the vegan diet. The levels of serum cholestanol and lathosterol also decreased, but serum cholestanol:total cholesterol and lathosterol:total cholesterol did not change. The effect of a vegan diet on serum plant sterols was divergent as the concentration of campesterol decreased while that of sitosterol increased. This effect resulted in a significantly greater sitosterol:campesterol value in the vegan diet group than in the control group (1.48 (SD 0.39) v. 0.72 (SD 0.14); P < 0.001). A higher concentration of campesterol compared with sitosterol is normal in omnivorous subjects and can be explained by lower absorption and esterification rates of sitosterol. Our results suggest that a strict uncooked vegan diet changes the relative absorption rates of these sterols and/or their biliary clearance.
These figures on phytosterols should he welcomed by dietitians and nutritionists concerned with planning fat-controlled diets and menus.
The lipid composition of chokeberry, black currant and rose hip seeds was investigated. The seeds contain 19.3 g kg⁻¹, 22.0 g kg⁻¹ and 8.2 g kg⁻¹ glyceride oil respectively. The content of phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine, was 2.8 g kg⁻¹, 1.3 g kg⁻¹ and 1.4 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The total amounts of sterols were 1.2 g kg⁻¹, 1.4 g kg⁻¹ and 0.4 g kg⁻¹. The main component was β-sitosterol, followed by campesterol and Δ⁵ -avenasterol. In the tocopherol fraction (55.5 mg kg⁻¹ in chokeberry oil, 249.6 mg kg⁻¹ in black currant oil and 89.4 mg kg⁻¹ in rose hip oil), α-tocopherol predominated in chokeberry oil (70.6 mg kg⁻¹). γ-Tocopherol was the main component in black currant oil (55.4 mg kg⁻¹) and rose hip oil (71.0 mg kg⁻¹). The fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols, individual phospholipids and sterol esters was also identified. In the phospholipids and sterol esters, the more saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic, stearic, and long chain fatty acids predominated.
Plant sterols are an essential component of the membranes of all eukaryotic organisms. They are either synthesised de novo or taken up from the environment. Their function appears to be to control membrane fluidity and permeability, although some plant sterols have a specific function in signal transduction. The phytosterols are products of the isoprenoid pathway. The dedicated pathway to sterol synthesis in photosynthetic plants occurs at the squalene stage through the activity of squalene synthetase. Although the activity of 3-hydroxymethyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HGMR) is rate-limiting in the synthesis of cholesterol, this does not appear to be the case with the plant sterols. Up-regulation of HGMR appears to increase the biosynthesis of cycloartenol but not the Delta(5)-sterols. A decline in sterol synthesis is associated with a suppression of squalene synthetase activity, which is probably a critical point in controlling carbon flow and end-product formation. The major post-squalene biosynthetic pathway is regulated by critical rate-limiting steps such as the methylation of cycloartenol into cycloeucalenol. Little is known about the factors controlling the biosynthesis of the end-point sterol esters or stanols. The commonly consumed plant sterols are sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol which are predominantly supplied by vegetable oils. The oils are a rich source of the steryl esters. Less important sources of sterols are cereals, nuts and vegetables. The nutritional interest derives from the fact that the sterols have a similar structure to cholesterol, and have the capacity to lower plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Since the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease have been dramatically reduced using cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), the interest in plant sterols lies in their potential to act as a natural preventive dietary product. Stanols (saturated at C-5) occur in low amounts in the diet and are equally effective in lowering plasma cholesterol and do not cause an increase in plasma levels, unlike the sterols which can be detected in plasma. (C) 2000 Society of Chemical Industry.
In certain ways all sterols are the same, yet in other respects they are quite different. To some extent we understand the reason for the similarities in that sterols must “fit” into the phospholipid leaflet which comprises the monolayer component of the common bilayer arrangement of natural membranes1. On the other hand, the reason or reasons for the differences in structure are still elusive. Although we are making a beginning, we still do not yet know why it is that, for instance, people have cholesterol as their major sterol1, while in flowering poinsettia plants only about half the sterol is cholesterol2, in cottonseed oil 93% of the sterol is 24α-ethylcholesterol (sitosterol)1, and in the vine, Clerodendrum splendens, nearly all of the sterol is the 22, 25 (27)-bisdehydro derivative of the 24β-epimer of sitosterol, viz., 25 (27)-dehydroporiferasterol3.
An improved method for determination of plant sterols in foods is described. It comprises successively acid and alkaline hydrolysis, extraction, and quantification by gas-liquid chromatography. The recovery of added sitosterol was 88-93% and the combined coefficient of variation within and between runs 5% or less. After introduction of acid hydrolysis sterol contents found in mixed natural diet samples increased by 2-4% for cholesterol, 13-23% for campesterol, 9-39% for stigmasterol and 22-42% for sitosterol. The amount of plant sterol recovered from individual foodstuffs was also increased. The increases are probably due to liberation of free plant sterols from (acylated) steryl glycosides by cleavage of the acid-labile acetal bond. In duplicate diet samples we identified the major sterols mentioned above, and the minor sterols brassicasterol, Δ7-sitosterol and (iso)fucosterol. The concentration of these minor plant sterols in some foodstuffs is also presented. We conclude that plant sterol consumption as studied in e.g. balance studies is underestimated by the common methods that do not use acid pretreatment. In addition, the conversion by intestinal micro-organisms of Δ7-sitosterol to sitostanol and of (iso)fucosterol to sitosterol could cause errors in sitosterol balance determination.
Sterols are essential for all eukaryotes. In contrast to animal and fungal cells, which contain only one major sterol, plant cells synthesize a complex array of sterol mixtures in which sitosterol, stigmasterol and 24-methylcholesterol often predominate. Sitosterol and 24-methylcholesterol are able to regulate membrane fluidity and permeability in a similar manner to cholesterol in mammalian cell membranes. Plant sterols can also modulate the activity of membrane-bound enzymes. In contrast, stigmasterol might be specifically required for cell proliferation.
Changes in the phospholipid, glycolipid, diacyl and triacylglycerol, free fatty acid and free sterol classes were examined during the development and ripening of Prunus persica cv. Redhaven peach fruit. Total lipid and lipid class contents decreased until 100 days after full bloom (AFB). While phospholipids and glycolipids decreased in the following stages, diacyl- and triacylglycerols increased. The analysis of each lipid class showed that the predominant fatty acids were 16:0 and 18:2. The double bond index showed, in each class, a general increase during maturation. The free sterol content continuously declined during maturation with the exception of samples at 100 days AFB, which showed an increase in the free sterol to phospholipid molar ratio. The main changes observed in lipids occurred mostly between the climacteric and postclimacteric stages.
While seeds ofCucurbita maxima contain both Δ5- and Δ7-sterols, the former, which have been described earlier, now have been found to disappear during germination. This suggests
that a function exists for the Δ5-compounds only in the early part of the life cycle ofC. maxima, unlike most of the other higher plants studied. In contrast to the Δ5-sterols, the level of Δ7-sterols increased during germination as well as during seedling development and maturation. The period of transition between
germination and seedling development appeared to be of special importance in terms of sterol changes. This period represented
a surge of sterol biosynthesis with an ontogenetic shift in sterol composition from approximately equal amounts of 24α- and
24β-ethyl stereochemistry to a predominance of the former. The sterol composition of the mature plants included only about
5% of the 24β-ethylsterols. The configurational relationships were demonstrated by high resolution1H-NMR. The sterols of the mature plants were: 25(27)-dehydrochondrillasterol, 24β-ethyl-25(27)-dehydrolathosterol, avenasterol,
spinasterol, 22-dihydrospinasterol and 24ξ-methyllathosterol. Based on the changes which occurred in the relative amounts
of the Δ7-sterols, it did not appear that the Δ5-components were being converted to their Δ7-analogs.
The amount of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) in the most important vegetables, fruits, and berries available in Finland was analyzed by a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. In this method phylloquinone was quantified with a dual-electrode electrochemical (EC) detector using menaquinone 4 (MK-4) as an internal standard. The seasonal variation of phylloquinone in some vegetables was also investigated. The highest phylloquinone content was analyzed in parsley (mean content = 360 μg/100 g), while other green vegetables were also found to be good sources of phylloquinone (general mean content > 100 μg/100 g). In contrast, red and yellow vegetables and fruits contained considerably lower amounts of phylloquinone (mean content < 20 μg/100 g). The mean phylloquinone content of berries ranged from 5.5 μg/100 g (strawberry) to 30 μg/100 g (black currant). Variation in the phylloquinone content of vegetables was considerable, although the main reason for this could not be determined. The contribution of vegetables, fruits, and berries to the average daily dietary intake of phylloquinone in Finland was estimated to be approximately 40 μg. Keywords: Phylloquinone; vitamin K1; vegetables; HPLC
The total and individual sterol content in 21 oat samples (seven cultivars grown at three different locations in Sweden) were analysed by gas chromatography after acid hydrolysis. The total sterol content in these oat cultivars varied between 350–491 µg g−1 of dry weight of kernel. The most abundant phytosterol was β-sitosterol (237–321 µg g−1) followed by campesterol (32–46 µg g−1), Δ5-avenasterol (15–47 µg g−1) and stigmasterol (11–21 µg g−1). There was a statistically significant difference in total sterol content between cultivars (p < 0.05) but no effect was found for cultivation location. Furthermore when contents of Δ5-avenasterol in hexane-extracted oat oil and acid-hydrolysed oat samples were compared, it was noticed that the content of Δ5-avenasterol was lowered due to acid hydrolysis. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
Cereal Chem. 79(1):148–154 The total plant sterol contents (free sterols and covalently bound structures) of the main cereals cultivated in Finland were determined. Furthermore, sterol contents were determined for different flour and bran fractions in the milling process of wheat and rye, as well as plant sterol contents in various milling and retail bakery products. The sample prep-aration procedure included acid and alkaline hydrolysis to liberate sterols from their glycosides and esters, respectively. Free sterols were extracted and, after recovery using solid-phase extraction, derivatized to trimethyl-silyl ethers for gas chromatography (GC) analysis. We used GC with a mass spectrometer (MS) for identification. When two cultivars of rye, wheat, barley, and oats grown in the same year were compared, the highest plant sterol content was observed in rye (mean content 95.5 mg/100 g, wb), whereas the total sterol contents (mg/100 g, wb) of wheat, barley, and oats were 69.0, 76.1, and 44.7, respectively. In addition, the 10 rye cul-tivars and breeding lines compared had total sterol contents of 70.7–85.6 mg/100 g. In the milling process of rye and wheat, the plant sterols fractionated according to the ash content of the corresponding milling product. In all cereal grain and milling product samples, sitosterol was the main sterol. The level of stanols differed in the different milling process samples; it was lower in the most refined rye and wheat flours (≈15%) than in the bran fractions (≈30% in the bran with 4% ash con-tent). Rye bread with whole meal rye flour as the main or only ingredient was a good source of sterols. Sterol content was higher than that of wheat bread, whereas plant sterol content of other bakery products was affected by the type and amount of fat used in baking.
Plant sterols are an essential component of the membranes of all eukaryotic organisms. They are either synthesised de novo or taken up from the environment. Their function appears to be to control membrane fluidity and permeability, although some plant sterols have a specific function in signal transduction. The phytosterols are products of the isoprenoid pathway. The dedicated pathway to sterol synthesis in photosynthetic plants occurs at the squalene stage through the activity of squalene synthetase. Although the activity of 3-hydroxymethyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HGMR) is rate-limiting in the synthesis of cholesterol, this does not appear to be the case with the plant sterols. Up-regulation of HGMR appears to increase the biosynthesis of cycloartenol but not the Δ5-sterols. A decline in sterol synthesis is associated with a suppression of squalene synthetase activity, which is probably a critical point in controlling carbon flow and end-product formation. The major post-squalene biosynthetic pathway is regulated by critical rate-limiting steps such as the methylation of cycloartenol into cycloeucalenol. Little is known about the factors controlling the biosynthesis of the end-point sterol esters or stanols. The commonly consumed plant sterols are sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol which are predominantly supplied by vegetable oils. The oils are a rich source of the steryl esters. Less important sources of sterols are cereals, nuts and vegetables. The nutritional interest derives from the fact that the sterols have a similar structure to cholesterol, and have the capacity to lower plasma cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Since the morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease have been dramatically reduced using cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), the interest in plant sterols lies in their potential to act as a natural preventive dietary product. Stanols (saturated at C-5) occur in low amounts in the diet and are equally effective in lowering plasma cholesterol and do not cause an increase in plasma levels, unlike the sterols which can be detected in plasma.© 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
The lipid composition of chokeberry, black currant and rose hip seeds was investigated. The seeds contain 19.3 g kg−1, 22.0 g kg−1 and 8.2 g kg−1 glyceride oil respectively. The content of phospholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine, was 2.8 g kg−1, 1.3 g kg−1 and 1.4 g kg−1, respectively. The total amounts of sterols were 1.2 g kg−1, 1.4 g kg−1 and 0.4 g kg−1. The main component was β-sitosterol, followed by campesterol and Δ5 -avenasterol. In the tocopherol fraction (55.5 mg kg−1 in chokeberry oil, 249.6 mg kg−1 in black currant oil and 89.4 mg kg−1 in rose hip oil), α-tocopherol predominated in chokeberry oil (70.6 mg kg−1). γ-Tocopherol was the main component in black currant oil (55.4 mg kg−1) and rose hip oil (71.0 mg kg−1). The fatty acid composition of triacylglycerols, individual phospholipids and sterol esters was also identified. In the phospholipids and sterol esters, the more saturated fatty acids, mainly palmitic, stearic, and long chain fatty acids predominated.© 1999 Society of Chemical Industry
A chemotaxonomic screening of the seed oil fatty acids of 22 common, edible berry species belonging to 13 genera (Vaccinium, Oxycoccus, Arctosta-phylos, Empetrum, Hippophaë, Chamaepericlymenum, Sambucus, Rosa, Fragaria, Rubus, Sorbus, Prunusand Ribes) that grow wild in northern Europe was carried out. The highest oil content in the seeds (≈30% d.w.) was measured in Vaccinium, Oxycoccusand Sambucus, and the lowest in Arctostaphylos, Empetrum, Rosaand Chamaepericlymenumspecies (<10% d.w.). The smaller the seed of a berry species within a genus, the higher was the oil content. The mass of 100
seeds varied from 10 mg (V. myrtillus) to 2950 mg (P. padus). Fatty acids of triacylglycerols were analysed as methyl esters by gas chromatography. Typically the most abundant fatty
acids were linoleic, α-linolenic, oleic and palmitic acids. Exceptions were S. aucupariaand P. padus,which contained hardly any α-linolenic acid. Currants (Ribes nigrum, Ri. spicatumand Ri. alpinum) also contained γ-linolenic acid (11–16 mol%) and stearidonic acid (3–6 mol%). The content and composition of the seed oil
of various berry species within the same genus, or within the same family, were similar, thus supporting the commonly accepted
taxonomic classification.
This work shows that fucosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and similar ethylidene-side chain sterols can undergo acid-catalyzed isomerization to give a mixture of five
isomers. Four isomers formed from fucosterol were analyzed, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and were characterized
as Δ5-avenasterol two Δ5,23-stigmastadienols, and Δ5,24(250)-stigmastadienol. When the unsaponifiables fraction from oat oil was subjected to acid hydrolysis, the two Δ5,23-stigmastadienol isomers and Δ5,24(25)-stigmastadienol were detected while fucosterol coeluted with sitosterol. Interisomerization of ethylidene-side chain sterols
represents a limitation to the use of the acid hydrolysis method in the determination of sterols in food and other plant materials
rich in these sterols, e.g., oat lipids.
A reliable method for routine use in the determination of sterols in foods is described. In the sample preparation procedure, acid hydrolysis prior to alkaline saponification was used to liberate glycosidic sterols. Sterols were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography as the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives and quantified using an internal standard (dihydrocholesterol). In method development, the main focus was on optimization of hydrolysis conditions and on extraction of sterols after hydrolysis. Performance of the proposed method was compared to the same method without the acid hydrolysis step. Method validation included recovery tests of added free sterol, esterified sterol, and glycosidic sterol. Major plant sterols, including stanols, and cholesterol could be quantitated at levels 0.5–800 mg/100 g when the method was applied to food samples.
Steryl fatty acyl esters are widely distributed in the plant kingdom but detailed knowledge of their biochemistry lags somewhat behind that on the steryl ester metabolism of animals. The literature reviewed covers the occurrence and metabolism of plant steryl esters, the nature of the acyl donor, the acyl and sterol specificity of the synthase enzyme, the hydrolysis of the esters and the possible functions for steryl esters in plants. The recent advances in the analytical techniques for the identification and quantification of the individual intact steryl esters present in complex mixtures should now encourage and facilitate new investigations on these topics to clarify the nature and role of steryl esters in plants.
The contents of vitamin D2 and sterols in some wild and cultivated mushrooms were determined, and the distribution of these compounds in different parts of the wild mushrooms was evaluated. In addition, the variation in vitamin D2 contents between individual fruiting bodies of wild mushrooms was studied. Vitamin D2 was determined using an HPLC method, including saponification and semipreparative normal-phase HPLC purification before analytical reversed-phase quantification with an internal standard. Sterol contents were analysed with gas chromatography using an internal standard method, including saponification before derivatizing sterols to trimethylsilyl ethers. Mass-spectral analyses were used to further confirm the identification of sterols. Vitamin D2 was almost totally absent in cultivated mushrooms, while some wild mushrooms contained high concentrations of this vitamin (4.7–194 μg/100 g dry weight). Ergosterol was the most abundant sterol found in mushrooms, and its contents were higher in cultivated mushrooms (602.1–678.6) than in wild mushrooms (296–489 mg/100 g dry weight). The contents of vitamin D2 and ergosterol varied greatly and moderately, respectively, between different parts of the mushrooms and were lowest in stipes. In addition, high variation in vitamin D2 contents between individual fruiting bodies was found.
Available data on phytosterols from the world's literature have been compiled and summarized. There still exists a paucity of data on the quantities of plant sterols in many foods. More extensive data are available on the relative sterol composition. Our compilation shows that plant oils are excellent sources of phytosterols. Nuts and seeds contain moderate levels, and fruits and vegetables generally contain the lowest concentrations of plant sterols. Analyses of the minor sterols, namely, the delta5- and delta7-phytosterols, have become available only recently.
This work shows that fucosterol, delta5-avenasterol, and similar ethylidene-side chain sterols can undergo acid-catalyzed isomerization to give a mixture of five isomers. Four isomers formed from fucosterol were analyzed, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and were characterized as delta5-avenasterol, two delta5,23-stigmastadienols, and delta5,24(25)-stigmastadienol. When the unsaponifiables fraction from oat oil was subjected to acid hydrolysis, the two delta5,23-stigmastadienol isomers and delta5,24(25)-stigmastadienol were detected while fucosterol coeluted with sitosterol. Interisomerization of ethylidene-side chain sterols represents a limitation to the use of the acid hydrolysis method in the determination of sterols in food and other plant materials rich in these sterols, e.g., oat lipids.
Plant sterols are known to have serum cholesterol lowering effects. A high dietary intake might therefore have a positive impact on health. All food items of vegetable origin contain some amount of plant sterols. The aim of this study was to analyse the plant sterol content of vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in Sweden, and to compare fresh and cooked samples of the same items.
Altogether 20 different vegetables and 14 fruits were analysed. All vegetables and fruits were purchased in two shops in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. Lyophilization was performed within one month of the items being purchased. The samples were frozen at −20 (C and analysed within six months, with a GLC method after acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis and silylation with tri-methylsilylether. The acid hydrolysis was done in order to detect the fraction of glycosylated plant sterols, which are split during boiling with HCl.
The median plant sterol content of vegetables was 14 (3.8–50) mg/100 g edible portion. The highest concentrations were found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and olives. The median plant sterol content of fruits was 16 (3–44) mg/100 g edible portion. The highest concentrations were found in oranges and passion fruits.
The plant sterol concentrations were thus low in vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in Sweden. A serum cholesterol lowering effect attributed to the plant sterols in vegetables and fruits would therefore be of limited significance.
To study cholesterol absorption and excretion in ileostomy subjects with different intakes of saturated fat and dietary fibre.
Short-term experimental study, with four controlled diets in repeated measurements.
Out-patients at metabolic-ward kitchen.
Nine healthy volunteers with conventional ileostomy after colectomy because of ulcerative colitis.
Four diet periods, each of 3 days duration: high saturated fat and low dietary fibre (STAND); reduced saturated fat (RESAT); high saturated fat and high fibre (FATFIB); and reduced saturated fat and high fibre (RESATFIB).
Absorption of cholesterol, and ileal excretion of cholesterol, bile acids, fat and energy. Differences between diets evaluated with Friedman's two-way analysis of variance by rank sum with Bonferroni adjustment, and post hoc differences assessed by rank sum comparison.
RESAT and RESATFIB reduced fractional cholesterol absorption by 7% and 10%; RESATFIB and FATFIB increased net cholesterol excretion by 46% and 54% respectively. Further, RESATFIB increased net sterol excretion by 18%, all compared to STAND (P<0.05 for all). All three intervention diets contained more phytosterols than STAND (P<0.05), and the phytosterol content was inversely correlated to fractional cholesterol absorption (r=-0.77, P<0.01).
Current nutrition recommendations to reduce saturated fat and increase dietary fibre affect sterol excretion additively. The effect on cholesterol absorption might be partly explained by the content of dietary plant sterols.
Supported by grants from the Gothenburg Medical Society, grant numbers 94/086 and 99/082, and by the University of Gothenburg.
Phytosterols (PS) or plant sterols are structurally similar to cholesterol. The most common PS are beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol. Epidemiologic and experimental studies suggest that dietary PS may offer protection from the most common cancers in Western societies, such as colon, breast and prostate cancer. This review summarizes the findings of these studies and the possible mechanisms by which PS offer this protection. These include the effect of PS on membrane structure and function of tumor and host tissue, signal transduction pathways that regulate tumor growth and apoptosis, immune function of the host and cholesterol metabolism by the host. In addition, suggestions for future studies to fill the gaps in our knowledge have been given.
The Arabidopsis mutants fackel and sterol methyltransferase 1 have defects associated with body organization of the seedling. Molecular analysis of these mutants has revealed that plant sterols may be key signaling molecules influencing position-dependent cell fate during embryonic development.
In 1997-1999, 120 incident and histologically verified cases of stomach cancer were frequency matched on age, gender, residence, and urban/rural status with 360 controls to study the role of diet in gastric cancer in Uruguay. We focused on the role of plant sterols (beta-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and total plant sterols) after controlling for major confounders. Total phytosterols were associated with a strong inverse relationship with stomach cancer (odds ratio of stomach cancer for total phytosterol intake in the highest tertile = 0.33, 95% confidence interval = 0.17-0.65). Joint exposure to high intake of total phytosterol and alpha-carotene was also inversely associated with gastric cancer risk (odds ratio = 0.09, 95% confidence interval = 0.02-0.32). High intake of total plant sterols explained most of the attenuation in risk of gastric cancer associated with vegetable and fruit intakes.
Plant sterols in vegetable foods might prevent colorectal cancer.
The objective was to study plant sterol intakes in relation to colorectal cancer risk in an epidemiologic study.
The study was performed within the framework of the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer in 120852 subjects who completed a baseline questionnaire in 1986. After 6.3 y of follow-up, 620 colon and 344 rectal cancer cases were detected. A case-cohort approach was used to calculate confounder-adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% CIs for quintiles of plant sterol intake.
The total mean (+/-SD) intake of campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, campestanol, and beta-sitostanol was 285 +/- 97 mg/d. Major contributors to plant sterol intake were bread (38%), vegetable fats (26%), and fruit and vegetables (21%). For men, there was no clear association between intake of any of the plant sterols and colon cancer risk when age, smoking, alcohol use, family history of colorectal cancer, education level, and cholecystectomy were controlled for. Adjustment for energy did not alter the result. For rectal cancer, adjustment for energy resulted in positive associations between risk and campesterol and stigmasterol intakes. For women, there was no clear association between intake of any of the plant sterols and colorectal cancer risk.
A high dietary intake of plant sterols was not associated with a lower risk of colon and rectal cancers in the Netherlands Cohort Study on Diet and Cancer.
Sterols in seeds, pulp/peel fractions, and whole berries of sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides L.) samples belonging to two major subspecies (sinensis and rhamnoides) from Finland and China were analyzed as TMS derivatives by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after saponification of the oils. The total sterol contents in the seeds, the fresh pulp/peel, and the whole berries were 1200-1800, 240-400, and 340-520 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding values in the extracted oils were 12-23, 10-29, and 13-33 g/kg. Sitosterol constituted 57-76 and 61-83%, respectively, of the seed and pulp/peel sterols. The sterol content and composition showed little variation between subspecies and collection sites. Different harvesting dates showed significant effects on the levels of some sterols both in the seeds and in the pulp/peel. The sterol profiles obtained are useful for characterizing sea buckthorn and detecting adulterations of the valuable oils. The information provided by the present investigation is also important for further chemical investigation of sea buckthorn sterols and industrial utilization of the berries as a raw material of functional foods.
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