Sitosterol

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 20.10.2022

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Synonym(s)

3beta-sitosterol; CAS No 83-46-5; sitosterol

Definition
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Widespread phytosterol which as a plant steroid is very closely related to cholesterol. Beta-Sitosterol belongs together with Campesterol and Stigmasterol to the most common phytosterols of plants (see below sterols).

Occurrence
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This phytosterol can be detected in cereal germs, soybeans, Urtica species (stinging nettle), Cucurbita species (cucurbits), etc.

Effects
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Reduces the absorption of cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract (previously used as a lipid reducer). Sitosterol also reduces the effect of dihydrotestosterone and interacts with the sex hormone binding globulin (SHGB). In this respect, sitosterol was previously used as a remedy for benign prostate adenoma (see also Urticae radix).

Literature
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  1. Miras-Moreno B et al. (2016) Bioactivity of phytosterols and their production in plant in vitro cultures. J Agric Food Chem 64:7049-7058.
  2. Valitova JN et al.(2016) Plant Sterols: Diversity, Biosynthesis, and Physiological Functions. Biochemistry (Mosc) 81:819-834.

Outgoing links (3)

Nettle; Soybean; Sterols;