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

Abstract

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