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Experimental Biology and Medicine... Oct 2019Preeclampsia is a severe complication which influences pregnant women all around the world, the symptom of which is serious maternal hypertension. Phytosterol is a type... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
UNLABELLED
Preeclampsia is a severe complication which influences pregnant women all around the world, the symptom of which is serious maternal hypertension. Phytosterol is a type of natural compound commonly found in plant products, and has been incorporated into various food vectors and natural drugs. In the paper, the curative effect on preeclampsia by combination of oral nifedipine and phytosterol was assessed. Random grouping was carried out, with 253 preeclampsia patients being registered and taking orally nifedipine+phytosterol or nifedipine+placebo. The time for controlling the blood pressure and the time needed for the occurrence of another hypertensive crisis were defined as primary endpoints. The dosage required for controlling blood pressure, and the adverse effects from infants and mothers were defined as secondary endpoints. The nifedipine+phytosterol group required a remarkably shorter time for controlling blood pressure than the nifedipine+placebo group, an obviously delayed time for the occurrence of new hypertensive crisis, and an obvious lower dosage for controlling blood pressure. There was no difference between the two groups regarding the adverse effects from infants and mothers. Findings in the study suggest that phytosterol is an effective and safe adjuvant of the oral nifedipine and can alleviate the hypertension symptoms in preeclampsia patients.
IMPACT STATEMENT
There was no difference between the two groups regarding the adverse effects from infants and mothers. Findings in the study suggest that phytosterol is an effective and safe adjuvant of the oral nifedipine and can alleviate the hypertension symptoms in preeclampsia patients.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Blood Pressure; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Nifedipine; Phytosterols; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31262189
DOI: 10.1177/1535370219861574 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2013Foods with added phytosterols/phytostanols (PS) are recommended to lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) concentrations. Manufacturers have incorporated PS into a variety of... (Review)
Review
Foods with added phytosterols/phytostanols (PS) are recommended to lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) concentrations. Manufacturers have incorporated PS into a variety of common foods. Understanding the cholesterol-lowering impact of the food matrix and the PS characteristics would maximize their success and increase the benefit to consumers. This review systematically examines whether the PS characteristics and the fatty acid composition of foods with added PS affects serum LDL-c. A total of 33 studies published between the years 1998 and 2011 inclusive of 66 individual primary variables (strata) were evaluated. The functional food matrices included margarine, mayonnaise, yogurt, milk, cheese, meat, grain, juice, and chocolate. Consistently, ≥10% reductions in LDL-c were reported when the characteristics of the food matrix included poly- and monounsaturated fatty acids known to lower LDL-c. Also, >10% mean reductions in LDL-c were reported when β-sitostanol and campestanol as well as stanol esters were used. These characteristics allow both low-fat and high-fat foods to successfully incorporate PS and significantly lower LDL-c.
Topics: Anticholesteremic Agents; Cholesterol, LDL; Diet; Dietary Fats; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Functional Food; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Phytosterols; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Sitosterols
PubMed: 24228192
DOI: 10.3945/an.113.004507 -
Biomolecules Apr 2020Steroids are a pivotal class of hormones with a key role in growth modulation and signal transduction in multicellular organisms. Synthetic steroids are widely used to... (Review)
Review
Steroids are a pivotal class of hormones with a key role in growth modulation and signal transduction in multicellular organisms. Synthetic steroids are widely used to cure large array of viral, fungal, bacterial, and cancerous infections. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a natural collection of phytosterols, which have structural similarity with animal steroids. BRs are dispersed universally throughout the plant kingdom. These plant steroids are well known to modulate a plethora of physiological responses in plants leading to improvement in quality as well as yield of food crops. Moreover, they have been found to play imperative role in stress-fortification against various stresses in plants. Over a decade, BRs have conquered worldwide interest due to their diverse biological activities in animal systems. Recent studies have indicated anticancerous, antiangiogenic, antiviral, antigenotoxic, antifungal, and antibacterial bioactivities of BRs in the animal test systems. BRs inhibit replication of viruses and induce cytotoxic effects on cancerous cell lines. Keeping in view the biological activities of BRs, this review is an attempt to update the information about prospects of BRs in biomedical and clinical application.
Topics: Animals; Biomedical Research; Brassinosteroids; Diet; Humans
PubMed: 32283642
DOI: 10.3390/biom10040572 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023Crude rice bran oils from different rice cultivars and extraction methods bear different contents of nutraceuticals. The health benefits of lowering cholesterol activity...
Crude rice bran oils from different rice cultivars and extraction methods bear different contents of nutraceuticals. The health benefits of lowering cholesterol activity of rice bran oil being confirmed by many reports are partly attributed to non-nutrient nutraceuticals, especially γ-oryzanol, phytosterols, and policosanols. As the world has been facing the global warming crisis, green extraction technology is gaining attention from many sectors. The current study aims to compare the nutraceutical composition with respect to γ-oryzanol, phytosterol, and policosanol content as well as the antioxidant properties of crude rice bran oils extracted from white and red rice bran using three green technologies, comparing with conventional hexane extraction. The data show that the traditional solvent extraction gave the highest oil yield percentage (26%), but it was not significantly different from subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction (24.6%). Subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction gave higher oil yield than supercritical CO extraction (15.5-16.2%). The crude rice bran oil extracted using subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction produced the highest total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities. The highest γ-oryzanol content of the crude rice bran oil was found in oil extracted by conventional cold press (1370.43 mg/100 g). The γ-oryzanol content of the oil obtained via subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction was high (1213.64 mg/100 g) compared with supercritical CO extraction. The red rice bran yielded the crude rice bran oil with the highest total phytosterol content compared with the white bran, and the oil from red rice bran extracted with subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether generated the highest total phytosterol content (1784.17 mg/100 g). The highest policosanol content (274.40 mg/100 g) was also found in oil obtained via subcritical liquefied dimethyl ether extraction.
Topics: Rice Bran Oil; Antioxidants; Carbon Dioxide; Phenylpropionates; Phytosterols; Oryza
PubMed: 36985429
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062457 -
The New Phytologist Aug 2017Withania somnifera produces pharmacologically important triterpenoid withanolides that are derived via phytosterol pathway; however, their biosynthesis and regulation...
A WRKY transcription factor from Withania somnifera regulates triterpenoid withanolide accumulation and biotic stress tolerance through modulation of phytosterol and defense pathways.
Withania somnifera produces pharmacologically important triterpenoid withanolides that are derived via phytosterol pathway; however, their biosynthesis and regulation remain to be elucidated. A jasmonate- and salicin-inducible WRKY transcription factor from W. somnifera (WsWRKY1) exhibiting correlation with withaferin A accumulation was functionally characterized employing virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression studies combined with transcript and metabolite analyses, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. WsWRKY1 silencing resulted in stunted plant growth, reduced transcripts of phytosterol pathway genes with corresponding reduction in phytosterols and withanolides in W. somnifera. Its overexpression elevated the biosynthesis of triterpenoids in W. somnifera (phytosterols and withanolides), as well as tobacco and tomato (phytosterols). Moreover, WsWRKY1 binds to W-box sequences in promoters of W. somnifera genes encoding squalene synthase and squalene epoxidase, indicating its direct regulation of triterpenoid pathway. Furthermore, while WsWRKY1 silencing in W. somnifera compromised the tolerance to bacterial growth, fungal infection, and insect feeding, its overexpression in tobacco led to improved biotic stress tolerance. Together these findings demonstrate that WsWRKY1 has a positive regulatory role on phytosterol and withanolides biosynthesis, and defense against biotic stress, highlighting its importance as a metabolic engineering tool for simultaneous improvement of triterpenoid biosynthesis and plant defense.
Topics: Acetates; Adaptation, Physiological; Amino Acid Sequence; Benzyl Alcohols; Biosynthetic Pathways; Cyclopentanes; Down-Regulation; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gene Silencing; Genes, Plant; Glucosides; Oxylipins; Phytosterols; Plant Proteins; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Binding; Sequence Analysis, Protein; Stress, Physiological; Subcellular Fractions; Transcription Factors; Up-Regulation; Withania; Withanolides
PubMed: 28649699
DOI: 10.1111/nph.14663 -
BMC Biotechnology Jan 2021Bacterial degradation/transformation of steroids is widely investigated to create biotechnologically relevant strains for industrial application. The strain of...
BACKGROUND
Bacterial degradation/transformation of steroids is widely investigated to create biotechnologically relevant strains for industrial application. The strain of Nocardioides simplex VKM Ac-2033D is well known mainly for its superior 3-ketosteroid Δ-dehydrogenase activity towards various 3-oxosteroids and other important reactions of sterol degradation. However, its biocatalytic capacities and the molecular fundamentals of its activity towards natural sterols and synthetic steroids were not fully understood. In this study, a comparative investigation of the genome-wide transcriptome profiling of the N. simplex VKM Ac-2033D grown on phytosterol, or in the presence of cortisone 21-acetate was performed with RNA-seq.
RESULTS
Although the gene patterns induced by phytosterol generally resemble the gene sets involved in phytosterol degradation pathways in mycolic acid rich actinobacteria such as Mycolicibacterium, Mycobacterium and Rhodococcus species, the differences in gene organization and previously unreported genes with high expression level were revealed. Transcription of the genes related to KstR- and KstR2-regulons was mainly enhanced in response to phytosterol, and the role in steroid catabolism is predicted for some dozens of the genes in N. simplex. New transcription factors binding motifs and new candidate transcription regulators of steroid catabolism were predicted in N. simplex. Unlike phytosterol, cortisone 21-acetate does not provide induction of the genes with predicted KstR and KstR2 sites. Superior 3-ketosteroid-Δ-dehydrogenase activity of N. simplex VKM Ac-2033D is due to the kstDs redundancy in the genome, with the highest expression level of the gene KR76_27125 orthologous to kstD2, in response to cortisone 21-acetate. The substrate spectrum of N. simplex 3-ketosteroid-Δ-dehydrogenase was expanded in this study with progesterone and its 17α-hydroxylated and 11α,17α-dihydroxylated derivatives, that effectively were 1(2)-dehydrogenated in vivo by the whole cells of the N. simplex VKM Ac-2033D.
CONCLUSION
The results contribute to the knowledge of biocatalytic features and diversity of steroid modification capabilities of actinobacteria, defining targets for further bioengineering manipulations with the purpose of expansion of their biotechnological applications.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Bacterial Proteins; Cortisone; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Metabolic Engineering; Metabolism; Mycobacterium; Nocardioides; Oxidoreductases; Phytosterols; Progesterone; Rhodococcus; Steroids; Transcription Factors; Transcriptome
PubMed: 33441120
DOI: 10.1186/s12896-021-00668-9 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2020Inhibitors of enzymes in essential cellular pathways are potent probes to decipher intricate physiological functions of biomolecules. The analysis of sterol profiles...
Inhibitors of enzymes in essential cellular pathways are potent probes to decipher intricate physiological functions of biomolecules. The analysis of sterol profiles upon treatment with a series of azasterols reveals a specific in vivo inhibition of SMT2, a plant sterol-C-methyltransferase acting as a branch point between the campesterol and sitosterol biosynthetic segments in the pathway. Side chain azasteroids that modify sitosterol homeostasis help to refine its particular function in plant development.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Arabidopsis Proteins; Azasteroids; Enzyme Inhibitors; Methyltransferases; Phytosterols
PubMed: 32131509
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25051111 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2008Phytoecdysteroids are structural analogs of the insect molting hormone ecdysone. Plants comprise rich sources of ecdysteroids in high concentration and with broad... (Review)
Review
Phytoecdysteroids are structural analogs of the insect molting hormone ecdysone. Plants comprise rich sources of ecdysteroids in high concentration and with broad structural diversity. Ecdysteroids have a number of proven beneficial effects on mammals but the hormonal effects of ecdysteroids have been proven only in arthropods. Their structures are somewhat similar to those of the vertebrate steroid hormones but there are several structural differences between the two steroid groups. Despite of these essential structural differences, ecdysteroids exert numerous effects in vertebrates that are similar to those of vertebrate hormonal steroids, and they may serve as effective anabolic, hepatoprotective, immunoprotective, antioxidant and hypoglycemic agents. Ecdysteroids do not bind to the cytosolic steroid receptors, instead, they are likely to influence signal transduction pathways, like the anabolic steroids, possibly via membrane bound receptors. The application of phytoecdysteroids is a promising alternative to the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids because of the apparent lack of adverse effects. The prospective use of phytoecdysteroids may extend to treatments of pathological conditions where anabolic steroids are routinely applied. One of the most cited aspects of phytoecdysteroid application (on the Internet) is the increase of muscle size. However in this field too stringent research is needed as an adequate cytological explanation is not yet available for the anabolic. This paper reports on the most important structural differences between androgenic hormones, their synthetic analogs and ecdysteroids. The anabolic/hormonal effects and the possible mechanisms of action of these compounds are also discussed as concerns the skeletal muscle.
Topics: Anabolic Agents; Androgens; Animals; Ecdysone; Humans; Molecular Structure; Muscle, Skeletal; Phytosterols; Protein Biosynthesis; Signal Transduction; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 18220764
DOI: 10.2174/092986708783330674 -
Nutrients Jan 2017Specialty oils differ in fatty acid, phytosterol and antioxidant content, impacting their benefits for cardiovascular health. The lipid (fatty acid, phytosterol) and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Specialty oils differ in fatty acid, phytosterol and antioxidant content, impacting their benefits for cardiovascular health. The lipid (fatty acid, phytosterol) and antioxidant (total phenolics, radical scavenging capacity) profiles of grapeseed (GSO), corn (CO) and coconut (CNO) oils and their physiological (triacylglycerides, total and HDL-cholesterol and antioxidant capacity (FRAP) in serum and fatty acid and phytosterol hepatic deposition) and genomic (HL, LCAT, ApoA-1 and SR-BP1 mRNA hepatic levels) responses after their sub-chronic intake (10% diet for 28 days) was examined in healthy albino rats. Fatty acid, phytosterol and antioxidant profiles differed between oils ( ≤ 0.01). Serum and hepatic triacylglycerides and total cholesterol increased ( ≤ 0.01); serum HDL-Cholesterol decreased ( < 0.05); but serum FRAP did not differ ( > 0.05) in CNO-fed rats as compared to CO or GSO groups. Hepatic phytosterol deposition was higher (+2.2 mg/g; ≤ 0.001) in CO- than GSO-fed rats, but their fatty acid deposition was similar. All but ApoA-1 mRNA level increased in GSO-fed rats as compared to other groups ( ≤ 0.01). Hepatic fatty acid handling, but not antioxidant response, nor hepatic phytosterol deposition, could be related to a more efficient reverse-cholesterol transport in GSO-fed rats as compared to CO or CNO.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Cholesterol, HDL; Coconut Oil; Corn Oil; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated; Fatty Acids; Gene Expression Regulation; Hyperlipidemias; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity; Phenols; Phytosterols; Plant Oils; Random Allocation; Rats, Wistar; Seeds; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; Vitis
PubMed: 28117688
DOI: 10.3390/nu9010082 -
Nutrients Apr 2024The main objective of this study was to determine plasma levels of PS and to study SNVs rs41360247, rs4245791, rs4148217, and rs11887534 of and the r657152 SNV at the...
The main objective of this study was to determine plasma levels of PS and to study SNVs rs41360247, rs4245791, rs4148217, and rs11887534 of and the r657152 SNV at the ABO blood group locus in a sample of a population treated at our hospital, and to determine whether these SNVs are related to plasma PS concentrations. The secondary objective was to establish the variables associated with plasma PS concentrations in adults. Participants completed a dietary habit questionnaire and a blood sample was collected to obtain the following variables: campesterol, sitosterol, sitostanol, lanosterol, stigmasterol, biochemical parameters, and the SNVs. In addition, biometric and demographic variables were also recorded. In the generalized linear model, cholesterol and age were positively associated with total PS levels, while BMI was negatively related. For rs4245791, homozygous T allele individuals showed a significantly lower campesterol concentration compared with C homozygotes, and the GG alleles of rs657152 had the lowest levels of campesterol compared with the other alleles of the SNV. Conclusions: The screening of certain SNVs could help prevent the increase in plasma PS and maybe PNALD in some patients. However, further studies on the determinants of plasma phytosterol concentrations are needed.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Phytosterols; Lanosterol; Stigmasterol; ABO Blood-Group System; Alleles
PubMed: 38613098
DOI: 10.3390/nu16071067