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Critical Analysis on Characterization, Systemic Effect, and Therapeutic Potential of Beta-Sitosterol: A Plant-Derived Orphan Phytosterol
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Beta-sitosterol (BS) is a phytosterol, widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom and known to be involved in the stabilization of cell membranes. To compile the sources, physical and chemical properties, spectral and chromatographic analytical methods, synthesis, systemic effects, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic potentials, toxicity, drug delivery and finally, to suggest future research with BS, classical as well as on-line literature were studied. Classical literature includes classical books on ethnomedicine and phytochemistry, and the electronic search included Pubmed, SciFinder, Scopus, the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and others. BS could be obtained from different plants, but the total biosynthetic pathway, as well as its exact physiological and structural function in plants, have not been fully understood. Different pharmacological effects have been studied, but most of the mechanisms of action have not been studied in detail. Clinical trials with BS have shown beneficial effects in different diseases, but long-term study results are not available. These have contributed to its current status as an “orphan phytosterol”. Therefore, extensive research regarding its effect at cellular and molecular level in humans as well as addressing the claims made by commercial manufacturers such as the cholesterol lowering ability, immunological activity etc. are highly recommended.
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![Figure 1 Beta-sitosterol(BS) [3] (Drawn by using ChemDraw software).](/paper-figures/20a3a33586654caf8888ef592100fbea/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-1.jpg)
![Figure 2 Stigmasterol [3] (Drawn by using ChemDraw software).](/paper-figures/e5735b1ad5594c8fb9b23d83be89389e/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-2.jpg)
![Figure 3 Campesterol [3] (Drawn by using ChemDraw software).](/paper-figures/d31f2841059a4b2f8a14cd4c023f2de4/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-3.jpg)
![Figure 4 Formation of squalene [42].](/paper-figures/936745bfb2e74be9a3b4fa8d62b2c5d6/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-4.jpg)
![Figure 5 Synthesis of BS [40].](/paper-figures/09055e0ff4f74214a5375b065664ee31/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-5.jpg)
![Figure 6 Synthesis of cholesterol [41].](/paper-figures/0997e3daba3d47729d0cfa5d04585140/critical-analysis-on-characterization-systemic-effect-and-therapeutic-potential-figure-6.jpg)

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“In addition, β-sitosterol shows numerous health benefits such as antimicrobial, anti-pulmonary tuberculosis, antidiabetic, anticancer, immune modulation and anti-HIV, anti-arthritic, antipyretic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-atherosclerosis, and angiogenic influences.”
From Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds (2023) · cites this paper as [98]
In the citing paper
“β-sitosterol lowers inflammatory activity by inhibiting the STAT1 pathway, and the activation of NF-kB translocation is mediated by tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1.”
From Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds (2023) · cites this paper as [98]
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“It is beneficial as a dietary supplement to reduce plasma cholesterol and exhibits antioxidant activities or stimulates antioxidant enzymes [98].”
From Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds (2023) · cites this paper as [98]
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Cites
Molecular Mechanisms of Stress-Responsive Changes in Collagen and Elastin Networks in Skin
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Kite, G. C., & Dewick, P. M. (1998) · Kew Bulletin · doi:10.2307/4114524 · Cited by 738
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Hu, F. B. (2003) · The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/78.3.544s · Cited by 700
Phytosterols as Anticancer Dietary Components: Evidence and Mechanism of Action
Awad, A. B., & Fink, C. S. (2000) · Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/130.9.2127 · Cited by 647
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HENCH, P. S. (1950) · Archives of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1001/archinte.1950.00230100002001 · Cited by 501
Metabolism of β-sitosterol in man
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Sorted by citations
Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds
Agarwal, A., Rizwana, Tripathi, A. D., Kumar, T., Sharma, K. P., & Patel, S. K. S. (2023) · Antioxidants · doi:10.3390/antiox12071413 · Cited by 135
Metadata
- Authors
- Bin Sayeed, M., Karim, S., Sharmin, T., & Morshed, M.
- Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
- Daffodil International University (BD)
- University of Dhaka (BD)
- Venue
- Medicines
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2016-11-15
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 29
- ISSN
- 2305-6320 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5456237
- OpenAlex
- W2552642879
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 205
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Medicines (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Uppsala Universitet
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Phytochemical Studies and Bioactivities
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Natural product bioactivities and synthesis
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Medicinal Plant Research
- Keywords
- β-sitosterol, phytosterols, sterol biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, cholesterol lowering, immunological activity, toxicity, drug delivery, cell membrane stabilization, clinical trials, ethnomedicine
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