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Cells Jun 2023Ecdysteroids are crucial in regulating the growth and development of insects. In the fruit fly , both C and C ecdysteroids have been identified. While the biosynthetic...
Ecdysteroids are crucial in regulating the growth and development of insects. In the fruit fly , both C and C ecdysteroids have been identified. While the biosynthetic pathway of the C ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) from cholesterol is relatively well understood, the biosynthetic pathway of C ecdysteroids from C or C dietary sterols remains unknown. In this study, we found that different dietary sterols (including the C sterols cholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol, the C sterols brassicasterol, campesterol, and ergosterol, and the C sterols β-sitosterol, α-spinasterol, and stigmasterol) differentially affected the expression of 20E biosynthetic genes to varying degrees, but similarly activated 20E primary response gene expression in Kc cells. We also found that a single dietary sterol was sufficient to support growth and development. Furthermore, the expression levels of some 20E biosynthetic genes were significantly altered, whereas the expression of 20E signaling primary response genes remained unaffected when flies were reared on lipid-depleted diets supplemented with single sterol types. Overall, our study provided preliminary clues to suggest that the same enzymatic system responsible for the classical C ecdysteroid 20E biosynthetic pathway also participated in the conversion of C and C dietary sterols into C ecdysteroids.
Topics: Animals; Sterols; Drosophila melanogaster; Ecdysteroids; Ecdysterone; Cholesterol
PubMed: 37443773
DOI: 10.3390/cells12131739 -
Nutrients Mar 2024The association between phytosterols and lipid levels remains poorly assessed at a population level. We assessed the associations between serum levels of six...
The association between phytosterols and lipid levels remains poorly assessed at a population level. We assessed the associations between serum levels of six phytosterols (campesterol, campestanol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, sitostanol and brassicasterol) and of lipids [total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipopoprotein A-IV and lipoprotein Lp(a)] in two cross-sectional surveys of a population-based, prospective study. Data from 910 participants (59.1% women, 70.4 ± 4.7 years) for the first survey (2009-2012) and from 721 participants (60.2% women, 75.1 ± 4.7 years) for the second survey (2014-2017) were used. After multivariable adjustment, all phytosterols were positively associated with total cholesterol: slope and (95% confidence interval) 1.594 (1.273-1.915); 0.073 (0.058-0.088); 0.060 (0.044-0.076); 2.333 (1.836-2.830); 0.049 (0.033-0.064) and 0.022 (0.017-0.028) for campesterol, campestanol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, sitostanol and brassicasterol, respectively, in the first survey, and 1.257 (0.965-1.548); 0.066 (0.052-0.079); 0.049 (0.034-0.063); 1.834 (1.382-2.285); 0.043 (0.029-0.057) and 0.018 (0.012-0.023) in the second survey, all < 0.05. Similar positive associations were found between all phytosterols and LDL cholesterol. Positive associations were found between campesterol and sitosterol and HDL-cholesterol: slope and (95% CI) 0.269 (0.134-0.405) and 0.393 (0.184-0.602) for campesterol and sitosterol, respectively, in the first survey, and 1.301 (0.999-1.604) and 0.588 (0.327-0.849) in the second survey, all < 0.05. No associations were found between phytosterols and triglyceride or lipoprotein Lp(a) levels, while a positive association between campesterol and apolipoprotein A-IV levels was found: 2.138 (0.454-3.822). Upon normal dietary intakes, serum phytosterol levels were positively associated with total and LDL cholesterol levels, while no consistent association with other lipid markers was found.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Sitosterols; Cholesterol, LDL; Stigmasterol; Cross-Sectional Studies; Prospective Studies; Phytosterols; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL; Triglycerides; Lipoprotein(a)
PubMed: 38542686
DOI: 10.3390/nu16060775 -
Alzheimer's Research & Therapy Mar 2024Studies have suggested that blood circulating phytosterols, plant-derived sterols analogous to cholesterol, were associated with blood lipid levels and the risk of...
BACKGROUND
Studies have suggested that blood circulating phytosterols, plant-derived sterols analogous to cholesterol, were associated with blood lipid levels and the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). This Mendelian randomization (MR) study is performed to determine the causal effect of circulating phytosterols on AD and PD and evaluate the mediation effect of blood lipids.
METHODS
Leveraging genome-wide association studies summary-level data for phytosterols, blood lipids, AD, and PD, univariable and multivariable MR (MVMR) analyses were conducted. Four types of phytosterols (brassicasterol, campesterol, sitosterol, and stigmasterol), three blood lipids parameters (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], non-HDL-C, and triglyceride), two datasets for AD and PD were used. Inverse-variance weighted method was applied as the primary analysis, and false discovery rate method was used for adjustment of multiple comparisons.
RESULTS
Using the largest AD dataset, genetically proxied higher levels of stigmasterol (OR = 0.593, 95%CI = 0.431-0.817, P = 0.004) and sitosterol (OR = 0.864, 95%CI = 0.791-0.943, P = 0.004) significantly correlated with a lower risk of AD. No significant associations were observed between all four types of phytosterols levels and PD. MVMR estimates showed that the above causal associations were missing after integrating the blood lipids as exposures. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations, with no evidence of pleiotropy and heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION
The study supports a potential beneficial role of blood stigmasterol and sitosterol in reducing the risk of AD, but not PD, which is dependent on modulating blood lipids. These insights highlight circulating stigmasterol and sitosterol as possible biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AD.
Topics: Humans; Sitosterols; Stigmasterol; Alzheimer Disease; Genome-Wide Association Study; Parkinson Disease; Phytosterols; Cholesterol; Lipids
PubMed: 38461353
DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01424-9 -
Journal of Dairy Science Dec 2023Milk contains several components that are important for human nutrition and health. To date, studies on organic and conventional milk have focused on their gross...
Milk contains several components that are important for human nutrition and health. To date, studies on organic and conventional milk have focused on their gross composition and fatty acid content, but little attention has been paid to the differences between other minor components, such as sterols and vitamins that may have functional actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional differences among 3 types of milk from a dairy plant: conventional, high-quality, and organic (in compliance with European regulations) milk, focusing on minor components such as sterols of animal and plant origin (phytosterols), tocopherols, and bioactive fatty acids. Cholesterol ranged from 271.37 mg/100 g of fat in conventional milk to 278.76 mg/100 g of fat in organic milk. Lanosterol was the main minor animal sterol in cow milk (ranging from 3.41 to 4.37 mg/100 g of fat), followed by desmosterol. The amount of total plant sterols in the analyzed milk ranged from 4.43 mg/100 g of fat in organic to 4.71 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality milk. Brassicasterol was the main sterol of plant origin which varied from 2.6 mg/100 g of fat in conventional and organic milk, to 2.93 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality milk. The second most present phytosterol was β-sitosterol, which ranged from 0.86 mg/100 g of fat in conventional to 0.97 mg/100 g of fat in high-quality, and organic milk. The results of the study showed no significant differences in gross and sterol composition between the 3 types of milk. However, the only significant difference found was in the fatty acid profile, with a higher n-3 content found in high-quality milk than in conventional and organic milk. These findings suggest that the investigated product categories and labels have minimal effect on the sterol and fatty acid profile of commercial cow milk.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Female; Cattle; Sterols; Milk; Fatty Acids; Tocopherols; Phytosterols; Cholesterol; Vitamin E
PubMed: 37641300
DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23378 -
Food Chemistry: X Jun 2023Sesame oil has a unique flavor and is very popular in Asian countries, and this leads to frequent adulteration. In this study, comprehensive adulteration detection of...
Sesame oil has a unique flavor and is very popular in Asian countries, and this leads to frequent adulteration. In this study, comprehensive adulteration detection of sesame oil based on characteristic markers was developed. Initially, sixteen fatty acids, eight phytosterols, and four tocopherols were utilized to construct an adulteration detection model, which screened seven potentially adulterated samples. Subsequently, confirmatory conclusions were drawn based on the characteristic markers. Adulteration with rapeseed oil in 4 samples was confirmed using the characteristic marker of brassicasterol. The adulteration of soybean oil in 1 sample was confirmed using the isoflavone. The adulteration of 2 samples with cottonseed oil was demonstrated by sterculic acid and malvalic acid. The results showed that sesame oil adulteration could be detected by screening positive samples using chemometrics and verifying with characteristic markers. The comprehensive adulteration detection method could provide a system approach for market supervision of edible oils.
PubMed: 37397224
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100745 -
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin Dec 2023Dyslipidemia is a lifestyle-related (physical inactivity or obesity) disease; therefore, dietary foods that can easily be consumed in daily life is important to prevent...
Dyslipidemia is a lifestyle-related (physical inactivity or obesity) disease; therefore, dietary foods that can easily be consumed in daily life is important to prevent dyslipidemia. Ergosterol, a precursor of vitamin D, is a fungal sterol present in the membranes of edible mushrooms and other fungi. Ergosterol is converted to brassicasterol by 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), a cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme that converts 7-dehydrocholesterol (a precursor of vitamin D) into cholesterol. Previously, we reported that ergosterol increases 7-dehydrocholesterol, decreases cholesterol levels by competitive effect of DHCR7, and reduces DHCR7 mRNA and protein levels in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. Here, we investigated the effects of long-term high ergosterol intake on the cholesterol, vitamin D, and D biosynthetic pathways of rats fed a high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diet using GC-MS and LC with tandem mass spectrometry. In HFHS rats, oral ergosterol administration for 14 weeks significantly decreased plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total bile acid, and cholesterol precursor (squalene and desmosterol) levels and increased 7-dehydrocholesterol levels compared to HFHS rats without ergosterol. Ergosterol, brassicasterol, and vitamin D were detected, cholesterol levels were slightly decreased, and levels of vitamin D and its metabolites were slightly increased in rats fed HFHS with ergosterol. These results showed that ergosterol increased vitamin D levels, inhibited the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, and possibly promoted vitamin D biosynthesis in vivo. Therefore, daily ergosterol intake may aid in the prevention of dyslipidemia.
Topics: Rats; Humans; Animals; Vitamin D; Ergosterol; Biosynthetic Pathways; Sucrose; Vitamins; Cholesterol; Cholecalciferol; Diet; Dyslipidemias; Diet, High-Fat
PubMed: 37779053
DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b23-00348 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Medicines for chronic inflammation can cause gastric ulcers and hepatic and renal issues. An alternative treatment for chronic inflammation is that of natural bioactive...
Medicines for chronic inflammation can cause gastric ulcers and hepatic and renal issues. An alternative treatment for chronic inflammation is that of natural bioactive compounds, which present low side effects. Extracts of (Ortega) Müll. Arg. have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity; however, testing pure compounds would be of greater interest. Campesteryl palmitate, n-heptyl ferulate, palmitic acid, and a mixture of sterols, i.e., brassicasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were obtained from an ethyl acetate extract from (Ortega) Müll. Arg. bark using column chromatography. The toxicity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. None of the products assessed exhibited toxicity. The sterol mixture exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than the positive control, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition percentages were 37.97% and 41.68% at 22.5 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, n-heptyl ferulate decreased NO by 30.61% at 30 μg/mL, while campesteryl palmitate did not show anti-inflammatory activity greater than the positive control. The mixture and n-heptyl ferulate showed NO inhibition; hence, we may conclude that these compounds have anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore the therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds and their efficacy in treating chronic inflammation.
PubMed: 37960136
DOI: 10.3390/plants12213780 -
ACS Omega Feb 2024By dry crystallization, concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds can be increased in olein and super-olein fractions in vegetable oils. Among...
Fatty Acid Composition, Phenolic Compounds, Phytosterols, and Lipid Oxidation of Single- and Double-Fractionated Olein of Safflower Oil Produced by Low-Temperature Crystallization.
By dry crystallization, concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds can be increased in olein and super-olein fractions in vegetable oils. Among all sources of vegetable oils, safflower oil (SO) possesses the maximum linoleic acid content. To boost the industrial applications of SO, two variants were produced by single- and two-stage crystallization. This study aimed to determine the fatty acid compositions, phenolic compounds, phytosterols, and oxidative stability of fractionated olein (OF) and double-fractionated olein (DFO) produced by dry crystallization. For this, SO was cooled to -45 °C and filtered, the filtrate was denoted as single-fractionated olein (OF), and 40% of this section was taken for analytical purposes, while the remaining 60% was again cooled to -70 °C and filtered, and the filtrate was denoted as double-fractionated olein (DFO). Unfractionated safflower (SO) was used as a control, filled in amber glass bottles, and stored at 20-25 °C for 90 days. Fatty acid compositions and phytosterols were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phenolic compounds and induction periods were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Rancimat. GC-MS analysis revealed that the C18:2 contents of SO, OF, and DFO were 77.63 ± 0.82, 81.57 ± 0.44, and 89.26 ± 0.48 mg/100 g ( < 0.05), respectively. The C18:1 contents of SO, OF, and DFO were 6.38 ± 0.19, 7.36 ± 0.24, and 9.74 ± 0.32 mg/100 g ( < 0.05), respectively. HPLC analysis showed that phenolic compounds were concentrated in the low-melting-point fractions. In DFO, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 57.36 ± 0.12, 129.45 ± 0.38, 165.11 ± 0.55, 183.61 ± 0.15, 65.94 ± 0.11, and 221.75 ± 0.29 mg/100 g, respectively. In SO, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 24.79 ± 0.08, 78.93 ± 0.25, 115.67 ± 0.41, 34.89 ± 0.51, and 137.26 ± 0.08 mg/100 g, respectively. In OF, concentrations of tyrosol, rutin, vanillin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid were 35.96 ± 0.20, 98.69 ± 0.64, 149.14 ± 0.13, 57.53 ± 0.74, and 188.28 ± 0.82 mg/100 g, respectively. The highest concentrations of brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, avenasterol, stigmastenol, and avenasterol were noted in DFO followed by OF and SO. The total antioxidant capacities of SO, OF, and DFO were 54.78 ± 0.12, 71.36 ± 0.58, and 86.44 ± 0.28%, respectively. After the end of the storage time, the peroxide values (POVs) of SO, OF, and DFO stored for 3 months were 0.68, 0.85, and 1.16 mequiv O/kg, respectively, with no difference in the free fatty acid content.
PubMed: 38371827
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08099 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023An optimized PLE method was applied to several truffle species using three different solvent mixtures to obtain bioactive enriched fractions. The pressurized water...
An optimized PLE method was applied to several truffle species using three different solvent mixtures to obtain bioactive enriched fractions. The pressurized water extracts contained mainly (1 → 3),(1 → 6)-β-D-glucans, chitins, and heteropolymers with galactose and mannose in their structures. The ethanol extracts included fatty acids and fungal sterols and others such as brassicasterol and stigmasterol, depending on the species. They also showed a different fatty acid lipid profile depending on the solvent utilized and species considered. Ethanol:water extracts showed interesting lipids and many phenolic compounds; however, no synergic extraction of compounds was noticed. Some of the truffle extracts were able to inhibit enzymes related to type 2 diabetes; pressurized water extracts mainly inhibited the α-amylase enzyme, while ethanolic extracts were more able to inhibit α-glucosidase. var. and var. extracts showed an IC of 29.22 mg/mL towards α-amylase and 7.93 mg/mL towards α-glucosidase. Thus, use of the PLE method allows o bioactive enriched fractions to be obtained from truffles with antidiabetic properties.
PubMed: 37509816
DOI: 10.3390/foods12142724 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2024The present work is the first report on the ingredients of the × hybrid, a plant of the genus . So far, thirty substances have been isolated by various...
The present work is the first report on the ingredients of the × hybrid, a plant of the genus . So far, thirty substances have been isolated by various chromatographic techniques and identified by spectroscopic methods, such as UV/Vis, NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS. The compounds are classified as flavonoids: naringenin, eriodyctiol, eriodyctiol-7-O--D-glucoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-O--D-glucoside, apigenin, apigenin-7-O--D-glucoside, diosmetin-7-O--D-glucoside, quercetin, hesperetin and quercetin-3-O--D-glucoside; phenylpropanoids: martynoside, verbascoside, forsythoside B, echinacoside and allysonoside; chromene: 5,7-dihydroxychromone; phenolic acids: caffeic acid, -hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid methyl ester, gallic acid, -coumaric acid and vanillic acid; aliphatic hydrocarbon: docos-1-ene; steroids: brassicasterol and stigmasterol; a glucoside of allylic alcohol, 3-O--D-apiofuranosyl-(1→6)-O--D-glucopyranosyl-oct-1-ene-3-ol, was fully characterized as a natural product for the first time. Two tyrosol esters were also isolated: tyrosol lignocerate and tyrosol methyl ether palmitate, the latter one being isolated as a natural product for the first time. Moreover, the biological activities of the extracts from the different polarities of the roots, leaves and flowers were estimated for their cytotoxic potency. All root extracts tested showed a high cytotoxic activity against the Hep2c and RD cell lines.
Topics: Apigenin; Luteolin; Phlomis; Quercetin; Glucosides; Biological Products; Phenylethyl Alcohol
PubMed: 38255889
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020816