-
Journal of Oleo Science 2015Various factors affect intestinal absorption of cholesterol and plant sterols and stanols. Plant sterols and stanols are generally less absorptive than cholesterol.... (Review)
Review
Various factors affect intestinal absorption of cholesterol and plant sterols and stanols. Plant sterols and stanols are generally less absorptive than cholesterol. Differential absorption rates among various plant sterols and stanols have been also reported. Although it was suggested that differential absorption among cholesterol and various plant sterols was determined by difference in excretion rates of sterols and stanols through ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC) G5/ABCG8 of intestinal cells, our study suggests that affinity for and solubility in bile salt micelles can be important determinants for differential absorption of plant sterols and stanols. It was also suggested that plant sterols were transiently incorporated into intestinal cells and then excreted to intestinal lumen through ABCG5/ABCG8. However, in a rat study, transient incorporation of sitosterol into intestinal cells was not observed, suggesting that sitosterol is differentiated from cholesterol at the incorporation site of intestinal cells. It is well established that plant sterols inhibit intestinal absorption of cholesterol and exert a hypocholesterolemic activity. Plant sterols are solubilized in bile salt micelles as cholesterol. Our study clearly showed that because the sterol-solubilizing capacity of bile salt micelles was limited, plant sterols solubilized in micelles reduced the solubility of cholesterol. This can be the major cause of inhibition of cholesterol absorption by plant sterols. Pancreatic cholesterol esterase accelerates intestinal absorption of unesterified cholesterol. Although it was suggested that cholesterol esterase accelerated esterification of cholesterol incorporated into intestinal cells and acted as a transporter at the surface of intestinal cells, our research revealed that the accelerated cholesterol absorption was caused by hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in bile salt micelles. It is thought that hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine reduces the affinity of cholesterol for the micelles and accelerates the incorporation of cholesterol released from the micelles into intestinal cells.
Topics: ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 5; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 8; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; Animals; Anticholesteremic Agents; Bile Acids and Salts; Cholesterol; Esterification; Humans; Hydrolysis; Intestinal Absorption; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestines; Lipoproteins; Micelles; Phosphatidylcholines; Phytosterols; Rats; Sitosterols; Solubility; Sterol Esterase
PubMed: 25742922
DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess14221 -
BMC Plant Biology May 2019Cotton fiber is a single cell that arises from the epidermis of ovule. It is not only a main economic product of cotton, but an ideal material for studying on the growth...
BACKGROUND
Cotton fiber is a single cell that arises from the epidermis of ovule. It is not only a main economic product of cotton, but an ideal material for studying on the growth and development of plant cell. Our previous study indicated that phytosterol content and the ratio of campesterol to sitosterol fluctuated regularly in cotton fiber development. However, what effects of modified phytosterol content and composition on the growth and development of cotton fiber cell is unknown. In this study, we overexpressed the GhSMT2-1, a cotton homologue of sterol C-24 methyltransferase 2 gene in transgenic upland cotton plants to modify phytosterol content and composition in fiber cells and investigated the changes on fiber elongation and secondary cell wall deposition.
RESULTS
GhSMT2-1 overexpression led to changes of phytosterol content and the ratio of campesterol to sitosterol in fiber cell. At the rapid elongation stage of fiber cell, total phytosterol and sitosterol contents were increased while campesterol content was decreased in transgenic fibers when compared to control fibers. Accordingly, the ratio of campesterol to sitosterol declined strikingly. Simultaneously, the transgenic fibers were shorter and thicker than control fibers. Exogenous application of sitosterol or campesterol separately inhibited control fiber cell elongation in cotton ovule culture system in vitro. In addition, campesterol treatment partially rescued transgenic fiber elongation.
CONCLUSION
These results elucidated that modification of phytosterol content and composition influenced fiber cell elongation and secondary cell wall formation. High sitosterol or low ratio of campesterol to sitosterol suppresses fiber elongation and/or promote secondary cell wall deposition. The roles of sitosterol and campesterol were discussed in fiber cell development. There might be a specific ratio of campesterol to sitosterol in different developmental stage of cotton fibers, in which GhSMT2-1 play an important role. Our study, at a certain degree, provides novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of fiber cell development.
Topics: Archaeal Proteins; Cell Enlargement; Cell Wall; Cotton Fiber; Gossypium; Methyltransferases; Phytosterols; Plant Proteins; Plants, Genetically Modified
PubMed: 31109298
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1830-y -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Oct 2016Although there is a normal physiological rise in maternal lipids during pregnancy, excessive maternal hyperlipidemia during pregnancy increases cardiovascular disease...
Influence of maternal hypercholesterolemia and phytosterol intervention during gestation and lactation on dyslipidemia and hepatic lipid metabolism in offspring of Syrian golden hamsters.
SCOPE
Although there is a normal physiological rise in maternal lipids during pregnancy, excessive maternal hyperlipidemia during pregnancy increases cardiovascular disease risk for both the mother and offspring. There are limited safe lipid-lowering treatment options for use during pregnancy, therefore, we evaluated the influence of maternal phytosterol (PS) supplementation on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in mothers and progeny.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Female Syrian golden hamsters were randomly assigned to three diets throughout prepregnancy, gestation, and lactation (n = 6/group): (i) Chow (Chow), (ii) chow with 0.5% cholesterol (CH), and (iii) chow with 0.5% CH and 2% PS (CH/PS). Compared with newly weaned pups from Chow dams, pups from dams fed the CH-enriched diet demonstrated increases (p < 0.05) in total-C, LDL-C, HDL-C, and total LDL and VLDL particle number. Pups from CH-fed mothers also exhibited higher hepatic CH concentration and differential mRNA expression pattern of CH regulatory genes. Pups from PS-supplemented dams demonstrated reductions (p < 0.05) in serum total-C, non-HDL-C, and LDL-C but also increased triglycerides compared with pups from CH-fed dams. Maternal PS supplementation reduced (p < 0.05) hepatic CH and increased the abundance of HMG-CoAr and LDLr protein in newly weaned pups compared with the CH group.
CONCLUSION
Results suggest that maternal PS supplementation is largely effective in normalizing CH in pups born to mothers with hypercholesterolemia, however, the cause and long-term influence of increased triglyceride is not known.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Dyslipidemias; Female; Hypercholesterolemia; Lactation; Lipid Metabolism; Liver; Male; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Mesocricetus; Phytosterols; Pregnancy; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2; Triglycerides
PubMed: 27213832
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201600116 -
Progress in Lipid Research Apr 2019Dietary plant sterols and stanols as present in our diet and in functional foods are well-known for their inhibitory effects on intestinal cholesterol absorption, which... (Review)
Review
Dietary plant sterols and stanols as present in our diet and in functional foods are well-known for their inhibitory effects on intestinal cholesterol absorption, which translates into lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. However, emerging evidence suggests that plant sterols and stanols have numerous additional health effects, which are largely unnoticed in the current scientific literature. Therefore, in this review we pose the intriguing question "What would have occurred if plant sterols and stanols had been discovered and embraced by disciplines such as immunology, hepatology, pulmonology or gastroenterology before being positioned as cholesterol-lowering molecules?" What would then have been the main benefits and fields of application of plant sterols and stanols today? We here discuss potential effects ranging from its presence and function intrauterine and in breast milk towards a potential role in the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cardiovascular disease (CVD), inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and allergic asthma. Interestingly, effects clearly depend on the route of entrance as observed in intestinal-failure associated liver disease (IFALD) during parenteral nutrition regimens. It is only until recently that effects beyond lowering of cholesterol concentrations are being explored systematically. Thus, there is a clear need to understand the full health effects of plant sterols and stanols.
Topics: Asthma; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, LDL; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Absorption; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Phytosterols; Sitosterols
PubMed: 30822462
DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2019.02.003 -
PloS One 2020Ficus krishnae stem bark and leaves are used for diabetes treatment in traditional medicines. Stem bark of F. krishnae was sequentially extracted with hexane, methanol...
Ficus krishnae stem bark and leaves are used for diabetes treatment in traditional medicines. Stem bark of F. krishnae was sequentially extracted with hexane, methanol and water, and these extracts were tested for their antihyperglyceamic activity by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in overnight fasted glucose loaded normal rats. Hexane extract showed significant glucose lowering activity in OGTT, and the triterpene alcohols (cycloartenol+24-methylenecycloartanol) (CA+24-MCA) were isolated together from it by activity guided isolation and characterized by NMR and mass spectroscopy. The ratio of the chemical constituents CA and 24-MCA in (CA+24-MCA) was determined as 2.27:1.00 by chemical derivatization and gas chromatographic quantification. (CA+24-MCA) in high fat diet-streptozotocin induced type II diabetic rats showed significant antidiabetes activity at 1 mg/kg and ameliorated derailed blood glucose and other serum biochemical parameters. Cytoprotective activity of (CA+24-MCA) from glucose toxicity was evaluated in cultured RIN-5F cells by MTT assay and fluorescent microscopy. (CA+24-MCA) in in vitro studies showed enhanced cell viability in RIN-5F cells and significant protection of beta cells from glucose toxicity. Both in in vivo and in vitro studies (CA+24-MCA) showed enhancement in insulin release from the beta cells. In short term toxicity studies in mice (CA+24-MCA) did not show any conspicuous toxic symptoms. The combination of the phytosterols (CA+24-MCA) obtained through activity guided isolation of the stem bark of F. krishnae showed significant activity, and therefore is a promising candidate for new generation antidiabetes drug development.
Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Ficus; Glucose Tolerance Test; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin; Liver; Male; Mice; Molecular Conformation; Phytosterols; Plant Stems; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triterpenes
PubMed: 32584888
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235221 -
The Journal of Nutrition Aug 2015In utero exposure to excessive cholesterol has been shown to increase fetal plasma cholesterol concentration and predispose adult offspring to cardiovascular disease...
BACKGROUND
In utero exposure to excessive cholesterol has been shown to increase fetal plasma cholesterol concentration and predispose adult offspring to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Because lipid-lowering drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, natural cholesterol-lowering compounds may be a safe and effective alternative to reduce CVD risk in offspring born to hypercholesterolemic mothers.
OBJECTIVE
This study used the hypercholesterolemic apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mouse model to test the hypothesis that mothers supplemented with phytosterols during gestation and lactation would produce offspring with a more favorable lipid profile than offspring from unsupplemented mothers, despite having a genetic predisposition toward hypercholesterolemia.
METHODS
Sixteen female apoE(-/-) mice were randomly assigned to 2 diets fed throughout the gestation and lactation periods: a cholesterol-enriched diet (CH) (0.15%) or the cholesterol-enriched diet supplemented with phytosterols (CH/PS) (2%). Serum lipids and lipoproteins were measured by enzyme assay and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively, and liver cholesterol was analyzed by GC.
RESULTS
Compared with the CH-fed dams at the end of lactation, phytosterol-supplemented dams displayed lower (P < 0.05) serum total cholesterol (-55%), non-HDL cholesterol (-56%), and LDL cholesterol (-47%), but no change (P > 0.05) in HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations. Pups from phytosterol-fed dams demonstrated lower (P < 0.05) total cholesterol (-25%), non-HDL cholesterol (-25%), LDL cholesterol (-47%), and TGs (-41%), without any change (P > 0.05) in HDL cholesterol compared with pups from CH-fed dams. Furthermore, compared with pups from CH-fed dams, pups from phytosterol-supplemented dams displayed a lower (P < 0.05) number of total LDL particles (-34%), VLDL particles (-31%), and HDL particles (-30%).
CONCLUSION
Our results in apoE(-/-) mice suggest that even under strong genetic predisposition to hypercholesterolemia, pups born to mothers supplemented with phytosterols during gestation and lactation exhibit favorable liver and serum lipid responses compared with pups from unsupplemented mothers.
Topics: Animals; Apolipoproteins E; Dietary Supplements; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Hypercholesterolemia; Lactation; Lipid Metabolism; Lipoproteins; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Phytosterols; Pregnancy
PubMed: 26084365
DOI: 10.3945/jn.115.215061 -
PloS One 2024This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytosterols (PS) and phytosterol esters (PSE) on C57BL/6 mice. Three groups of 34 six-week-old C57BL/6 mice of...
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of phytosterols (PS) and phytosterol esters (PSE) on C57BL/6 mice. Three groups of 34 six-week-old C57BL/6 mice of specific pathogen free (SPF) grade, with an average initial body weight (IBW) of 17.7g, were fed for 24 days either natural-ingredient diets without supplements or diets supplemented with 89 mg/kg PS or diets supplemented with 400 mg/kg PSE. Growth performance, blood biochemistry, liver and colon morphology as well as intestinal flora status were evaluated. Both PS and PSE exhibited growth promotion and feed digestibility in mice. In blood biochemistry, the addition of both PS and PSE to the diet resulted in a significant decrease in Total Cholesterol (TC) and Triglyceride (TG) levels and an increase in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity. No significant changes in liver and intestinal morphology were observed. Both increased the level of Akkermansia in the intestinal tract of mice. There was no significant difference between the effects of PS and PSE. It was concluded that dietary PS and PSE supplementation could improve growth performance, immune performance and gut microbiome structure in mice, providing insights into its application as a potential feed additive in animals production.
Topics: Animals; Phytosterols; Dietary Supplements; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Mice; Liver; Esters; Male; Cholesterol; Triglycerides; Animal Feed; Superoxide Dismutase
PubMed: 38743661
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297788 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2022Cranberries are used in the production of medicinal preparations and food supplements, which highlights the importance of triterpene compounds determination in cranberry...
Cranberries are used in the production of medicinal preparations and food supplements, which highlights the importance of triterpene compounds determination in cranberry fruit raw material. The aim of our study was to develop and validate for routine testing suitable UPLC-DAD methodology for the evaluation of triterpene acids, neutral triterpenoids, phytosterols, and squalene content in cranberry samples. The developed and optimized UPLC-DAD methodology was validated according to the guidelines of the International Council for Harmonization (ICH), evaluating the following parameters: range, specificity, linearity (R2 > 0.999), precision, LOD (0.27−1.86 µg/mL), LOQ (0.90−6.18 µg/mL), and recovery (80−110%). The developed and validated technique was used for the evaluation of triterpenic compounds in samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos fruits, and their peels, pulp and seeds. The studied chromatogram profiles of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos were identical but differed in the areas of the analytical peaks. Ursolic acid was the dominant compound in fruit samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos. The highest amounts of triterpenic compounds were detected in the cranberry peels samples. The developed method for the detection of triterpene compounds can be applied in further studies for routine testing on the qualitative and quantitative composition of fruit samples of Vaccinium macrocarpon and Vaccinium oxycoccos species and cultivars.
Topics: Fruit; Phytosterols; Plant Extracts; Triterpenes; Vaccinium; Vaccinium macrocarpon
PubMed: 35889280
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144403 -
Metabolomics : Official Journal of the... Sep 2019Significant annual honey bee colony losses have been reported in the USA and across the world over the past years. Malnutrition is one among several causative factors...
BACKGROUND
Significant annual honey bee colony losses have been reported in the USA and across the world over the past years. Malnutrition is one among several causative factors for such declines. Optimal nutrition serves as the first line of defense against multiple stressors such as parasites/pathogens and pesticides. Given the importance of nutrition, it is imperative to understand bee nutrition holistically, identifying dietary sources that may fulfill bee nutritional needs. Pollen is the primary source of protein for bees and is critical for brood rearing and colony growth. Currently, there is significant gap in knowledge regarding the chemical and nutritional composition of pollen.
METHODS
Targeted sterol analysis and untargeted metabolomics were conducted on five commercially available crop pollens, three bee-collected crop pollens, three vegetable oils (often added to artificial protein supplements by beekeepers), and one commonly used artificial protein supplement.
RESULTS
This study reports key phytosterols and metabolites present across a spectrum of bee diets, including some of the major bee-pollinated crop pollens in the western United States. Significant differences were observed in sterol concentrations among the dietary sources tested. Among all quantified sterols, the highest concentrations were observed for 24-methylenecholesterol and further, pollen samples exhibited the highest 24-methylenecholesterol among all diet sources that were tested. Also, 236 metabolites were identified across all dietary sources examined.
CONCLUSION
Information gleaned from this study is crucial in understanding the nutritional landscape available to all bee pollinators and may further assist in future efforts to develop comprehensive database of nutrients and metabolites present in all bee diets.
Topics: Animals; Bees; Diet; Metabolomics; Phytosterols; Pollen
PubMed: 31538263
DOI: 10.1007/s11306-019-1590-6 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2022This study aimed to evaluate the effects of peanut varieties cultivated in Morocco ( and ) and extraction methods (cold press, CP; Soxhlet, Sox and maceration, and Mac)...
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of peanut varieties cultivated in Morocco ( and ) and extraction methods (cold press, CP; Soxhlet, Sox and maceration, and Mac) on the fatty acid profile, phytosterol, and tocopherol contents, quality characteristics, and antioxidant potential of peanut seed oil. The DPPH method was used to determine the antioxidant activity of the oils. The results revealed that fatty acid content was slightly affected by the extraction technique. However, the CP method was shown to be an excellent approach for extracting oil with desirable quality features compared to the Sox and Mac methods. Furthermore, the peanut oil extracted via CP carried a higher amount of bioactive compounds and exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities. The findings also revealed higher oleic acid levels from the oil, ranging from 56.46% to 56.99%. Besides, a higher total phytosterol and tocopherol content and DPPH scavenging capacity were obtained from the oil. Analyzing the study, it can be inferred that extraction method and variety both affect the composition of the peanut oil's bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. This information is relevant for extracting peanut oil with a greater level of compounds of industrial interest.
Topics: Peanut Oil; Antioxidants; Plant Oils; Virginia; Tocopherols; Fatty Acids; Vitamin E; Nutritive Value; Phytosterols; Arachis
PubMed: 36431807
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27227709