The extent and site(s) of inhibition of cholesterol absorption by plant sterols, sitosterol and fucosterol, were studied in rats. The intragastric administration of a single emulsified lipid meal containing 25 mg [3H]cholesterol and 25 mg of either sitosterol or fucosterol inhibited the lymphatic absorption of cholesterol by 57% and 41%, respectively, in 24 hr. Less than 2% of each plant sterol...

Fucosterol, a sterol that is abundant in marine algae, has hypocholesterolemic activity, but the mechanism underlying its effect is not clearly understood. Because data suggest that fucosterol can increase plasma high-density lipoprotein concentrations, we investigated whether it could activate liver X receptors (LXRs), critical transcription factors in reverse cholesterol transport. Fucosterol...

Cervical cancer greatly contributes to cancer-associated mortalities worldwide. The growing incidence of cervical cancer is of primary concern, and has signaled the need for multiple treatment options. Despite preliminary responses to chemotherapy and/or surgical interventions, the tumors consistently relapse. Previously, natural products gained attention for their diverse bioactivities, which ...

We have succeeded in corroborating the enhancing effect of vitamin A, vitamin C, sitosterol and fucosterol on the fibrinolytic activity of endothelial cells. The assay system consisted of an in situ dissolution of a fibrin layer coated onto a culture dish, over which endothelial cells were grown in a culture medium containing 10% serum. The dissolution was enhanced by the addition of these vita...

Extensive research has been carried out from last decades to discover potential constituents from plant sources. Stigmasterol is an important constituent and has been isolated from plants. It is involved in the synthesis of many hormones like progesterone, androgens, estrogens and corticoids. In addition to stigmasterol many of its derivatives like, spinasterol, fucosterol, cyasterone, stigmast...

In the past few years, rapid strides have been made in our knowledge of the origin of the extra methyl and ethyl groups in the side chain of plant sterols. It now appears that desmosterol (3) (fig 1) or another A24 sterol is the recipient of a methyl group from S-adcenosyl methionine resulting in the formation of 24-methylene cholesterol (III) which is the receptor of another methyl group to fo...

A rapid method of microwave-assisted extraction coupled with high-speed counter current chromatography and UV detector was established for the preparation of phytosterols from edible marine algae. Extraction conditions, namely microwave power, liquid/solid ratio, irradiation time and extraction temperature were optimized using orthogonal array design. The microwave-assisted extraction of Undari...

Sexual morphogenesis in Achlya, a filamentous water mold, is initiated by two hormones. Hormone A, or antheridiol, is a C-29 steroid. Four stereoisomers of antheridiol have been synthesized. The natural one (antheridiol 22S 23R) and its 7-deoxy 7-dihydro form, when added to an aerated culture of hermaphroditic Achlya heterosexualis, stimulated this mold to secrete twice as much hormone B as the...