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Food Research International (Ottawa,... Jun 2022C. oleifera oil is one of the high-quality edible oils recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Pharmacological studies have... (Review)
Review
C. oleifera oil is one of the high-quality edible oils recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Pharmacological studies have shown that C. oleifera oil is the homology of medicine and food, and it possesses extensive beneficial health properties both in vivo and in vitro. C. oleifera oil found its application in the functional food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. In recent years, the need for high-quality and high-quantity production of C. oleifera oil for human consumption has increased. The present review examines the chemical composition of C. oleifera oil, bioactive substances, extraction technologies, and evidence supporting the health benefits of C. oleifera oil. From the reviewed studies, it appears that C. oleifera oil contains a significant proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (>85%) with oleic acid (>75%) as the major compound, and high contents of squalene, tea polyphenols, tocopherol and phytosterol. Some variations in C. oleifera oil composition can be found depending on the kernel's origin and the extraction method used. Emerging technologies such as aqueous extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction are highly efficient processes, and can achieve higher recovery while reducing solvent and energy consumption. This review provides an in-depth discussion on the various extraction technologies and factors affecting the extraction efficiency of C. oleifera oil using traditional and emerging methods. The influences of different extraction methods on the C. oleifera oil characteristics are also introduced. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects of the extraction of C. oleifera oil have been identified and discussed.
Topics: Camellia; Humans; Phytosterols; Plant Oils; Polyphenols; Tocopherols
PubMed: 35651025
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111159 -
The American Journal of Clinical... Feb 2024Phytosterols are structurally similar to cholesterol and partially inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol, although their impact on coronary artery disease (CAD)...
BACKGROUND
Phytosterols are structurally similar to cholesterol and partially inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol, although their impact on coronary artery disease (CAD) risk remains to be elucidated.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to prospectively assess the associations between total and individual phytosterol intake and CAD risk in United States health professionals.
METHODS
The analysis included 213,992 participants from 3 prospective cohorts-the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), NHSII, and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study-without cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline. Diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire every 2-4 y since baseline. Associations between phytosterol intake and the risk of CAD, such as nonfatal myocardial infarction and fatal CAD, were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models.
RESULTS
More than 5,517,993 person-years, 8725 cases with CAD were documented. Comparing extreme quintiles, pooled hazard ratios (95% CIs) of CAD were 0.93 (0.86, 1.01; P-trend = 0.16) for total phytosterols, 0.89 (0.82, 0.96; P-trend = 0.05) for campesterol, 0.95 (0.88, 1.02; P-trend = 0.10) for stigmasterol, and 0.92 (0.85, 1.00; P-trend = 0.09) for β-sitosterol. Nonlinear associations were observed for total phytosterols, campesterol, and β-sitosterol: the risk reduction plateaued at intakes above ∼180, 30, and 130 mg/d, respectively (P-nonlinearity < 0.001). In a subset of participants (N range between 11,983 and 22,039), phytosterol intake was inversely associated with plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and IL-6 and positively associated with adiponectin, whereas no significant associations were observed for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or C-reactive protein concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS
Higher long-term intake of total and major subtypes of phytosterols may be associated with a modest reduction in CAD risk, displaying a nonlinear relationship that plateau at moderate intake levels. The role of phytosterols in preventing CAD warrants further investigation.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; Prospective Studies; Follow-Up Studies; Phytosterols; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38042410
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.11.020 -
Plant Cell Reports Feb 2022The genome of most plant viruses consists of a single positive-strand of RNA (+ ssRNA). Successful replication of these viruses is fully dependent on the endomembrane... (Review)
Review
The genome of most plant viruses consists of a single positive-strand of RNA (+ ssRNA). Successful replication of these viruses is fully dependent on the endomembrane system of the infected cells, which experiences a massive proliferation and a profound reshaping that enables assembly of the macromolecular complexes where virus genome replication occurs. Assembly of these viral replicase complexes (VRCs) requires a highly orchestrated interplay of multiple virus and co-opted host cell factors to create an optimal microenvironment for efficient assembly and functioning of the virus genome replication machinery. It is now widely accepted that VRC formation involves the recruitment of high levels of sterols, but the specific role of these essential components of cell membranes and the precise molecular mechanisms underlying sterol enrichment at VRCs are still poorly known. In this review, we intend to summarize the most relevant knowledge on the role of sterols in ( +)ssRNA virus replication and discuss the potential of manipulating the plant sterol pathway to help plants fight these infectious agents.
Topics: Cell Membrane; Genome, Viral; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Phytosterols; Plant Diseases; Plant Viruses; Plants; RNA Viruses; Virus Replication
PubMed: 34665312
DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02799-x -
ChemSusChem May 2022Steroids have been widely used in birth-control, prevention, and treatment of various diseases, representing the largest sector after antibiotics in the global... (Review)
Review
Steroids have been widely used in birth-control, prevention, and treatment of various diseases, representing the largest sector after antibiotics in the global pharmaceutical market. The steroidal active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have been produced via partial synthetic processes first mainly from sapogenins, which was converted into 16-dehydropregnenolone by the famous "Marker Degradation". Traditional mutation and screening, and process engineering have resulted in the industrial production of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD), androst-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), 9α-hydroxy-androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (9α-OH-AD), and so on, which serve as the key intermediates for the synthesis of steroidal APIs. Recently, genetic and metabolic engineering have generated highly efficient microbial strains for the production of these precursors, leading to the replacement of sapogenins with phytosterols as the starting materials. Further advances in synthetic biology hold promise in the design and construction of microbial cell factories for the industrial production of steroidal intermediates and/or APIs from simple carbon sources such as glucose. Integration of biotransformation into the synthesis of steroidal APIs can greatly reduce the number of reaction steps, achieve lower waste discharge and higher production efficiency, thus enabling a greener steroidal pharmaceutical industry.
Topics: Biotransformation; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Phytosterols; Sapogenins; Steroids
PubMed: 35089653
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202102399 -
Current Opinion in Insect Science Oct 2020Sterols serve structural and physiological roles in insects. However, insects and other arthropods have lost many genes in the sterol biosynthesis pathway, so they must... (Review)
Review
Sterols serve structural and physiological roles in insects. However, insects and other arthropods have lost many genes in the sterol biosynthesis pathway, so they must acquire sterols from their food. Sterols occur naturally as free (unconjugated) molecules, and as conjugated ones (mostly steryl esters). Once sterols are ingested and make their way into the gut, steryl esters can be converted into free sterols by Magro protein, a lipase excreted by enterocytes. Sterols in the free form enter midgut enterocytes through NPC1b and are then transported to the smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane for possible metabolism. For most insect herbivores, phytosterol dealkylation converts plant sterols into cholesterol. Some ingested sterols may also be consumed by microbiota dwelling inside the insect gut lumen; bacteria use sterols as a source of carbon and energy. Further studies will reveal interesting and exciting discoveries regarding the pathways for the dietary sterols entering the insect alimentary canal.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gastrointestinal Tract; Insecta; Phytosterols; Sterols
PubMed: 32927332
DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2020.08.001 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2023Phytosterols, coming as a by-product of vegetable oils or wood pulp, contain the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus and can be bioconverted into steroid...
Phytosterols, coming as a by-product of vegetable oils or wood pulp, contain the cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus and can be bioconverted into steroid intermediates by removing the C17 side chain. This chapter shows the scale-up, from flask to bioreactor, of phytosterols bioconversion into 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione; AD) using Mycolicibacterium neoaurum B-3805. Due to the fact that phytosterols and AD are nearly insoluble in water, two-phase systems and the use of chemically modified cyclodextrins have been described as methods to solve it. Here, we use a water-oil two-phase system that allows the bioconversion of up to 20 g/L of phytosterols into AD in 5 L and 20 L bioreactors.
Topics: Androstenedione; Androstenes; Bioreactors; Phytosterols; Water
PubMed: 37642848
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3385-4_14 -
Phytotherapy Research : PTR Jan 2022Phytosterols (PSs), classified into plant sterols and stanols, are bioactive compounds found in foods of plant origin. PSs have been proposed to exert a wide number of... (Review)
Review
Phytosterols (PSs), classified into plant sterols and stanols, are bioactive compounds found in foods of plant origin. PSs have been proposed to exert a wide number of pharmacological properties, including the potential to reduce total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and thereby decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Other health-promoting effects of PSs include anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Also, anticancer effects have been strongly suggested, as phytosterol-rich diets may reduce the risk of cancer by 20%. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the available evidence regarding the beneficial physiological and pharmacological activities of PSs, with special emphasis on their therapeutic potential for human health and safety. Also, we will explore the factors that influence the physiologic response to PSs.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Diet; Humans; Neoplasms; Phytosterols
PubMed: 34729825
DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7312 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2023Phytosterols are bioactive food components widely present in cell membranes of plants, especially in nuts and oilseeds. In recent years, many studies have shown that... (Review)
Review
Phytosterols are bioactive food components widely present in cell membranes of plants, especially in nuts and oilseeds. In recent years, many studies have shown that phytosterols possess therapeutic potentials for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review summarizes the effects of phytosterols from in vitro and in vivo studies to lower the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG), and the evidence supporting the potential of phytosterols against NAFLD. The potential mechanisms by which phytosterols improve NAFLD may include (i) competition with cholesterol; (ii) regulation of key factors involved in cholesterol and TG metabolism; and (iii) inhibition of liver inflammation and (iv) regulation of liver fatty acid composition. In summary, phytosterols are potential natural ingredients with good safety profile against NAFLD, which deserve more future studies.
Topics: Humans; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Phytosterols; Cholesterol; Triglycerides; Liver
PubMed: 34871105
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2006137 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2021Seaweed extracts are considered effective therapeutic alternatives to synthetic anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents, owing to their availability, low cost,... (Review)
Review
Seaweed extracts are considered effective therapeutic alternatives to synthetic anticancer, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents, owing to their availability, low cost, greater efficacy, eco-friendliness, and non-toxic nature. Since the bioactive constituents of seaweed, in particular, phytosterols, possess plenty of medicinal benefits over other conventional pharmaceutical agents, they have been extensively evaluated for many years. Fortunately, recent advances in phytosterol-based research have begun to unravel the evidence concerning these important processes and to endow the field with the understanding and identification of the potential contributions of seaweed-steroidal molecules that can be used as chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite the myriad of research interests in phytosterols, there is an immense need to fill the void with an up-to-date literature survey elucidating their biosynthesis, pharmacological effects, and other biomedical applications. Hence, in the present review, we summarize studies dealing with several types of seaweed to provide a comprehensive overview of the structural determination of several phytosterol molecules, their properties, biosynthetic pathways, and mechanisms of action, along with their health benefits, which could significantly contribute to the development of novel drugs and functional foods.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Antioxidants; Functional Food; Humans; Phytosterols; Seaweed
PubMed: 34884496
DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312691 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... 2022Phytosterols and phytostanols are natural products present in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds, or added to consumer food products whose intake is inversely associated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Phytosterols and phytostanols are natural products present in vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds, or added to consumer food products whose intake is inversely associated with incidence and prognosis of several cancers. Randomized cancer prevention trials in humans are unfeasible due to time and cost yet the cellular processes and signaling cascades that underpin anti-cancer effects of these phytochemicals have been explored extensively in vitro and in preclinical in vivo models. Here we have performed an original systematic review, meta-analysis, and qualitative interpretation of literature published up to June 2020. MEDLINE, Scopus, and hand-searching identified 408 unique records that were screened leading to 32 original articles that had investigated the effects of phytosterols or phytostanols on cancer biology in preclinical models. Data was extracted from 22 publications for meta-analysis. Phytosterols were most commonly studied and found to reduce primary and metastatic tumor burden in all cancer sites evaluated. Expression of pAKT, and markers of metastasis (alkaline phosphatase, matrix metalloproteases, epithelial to mesenchymal transcription factors, lung and brain colonization), angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, CD31), and proliferation (Ki67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen) were consistently reduced by phytosterol treatment in breast and colorectal cancer. Very high dose treatment (equivalent to 0.2-1 g/kg body weight not easily achievable through diet or supplementation in humans) was associated with adverse events including poor gut health and intestinal adenoma development. Phytosterols and phytostanols are already clinically recommended for cardiovascular disease risk reduction, and represent promising anti-cancer agents that could be delivered in clinic and to the general population at low cost, with a well understood safety profile, and now with a robust understanding of mechanism-of-action.
Topics: Animals; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Neoplasms; Phytosterols
PubMed: 33238719
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1835820