Plant sterols have attracted increasing attention due to their excellent cholesterol-lowering activity. However, free plant sterols have some characteristics of low oil solubility, water insolubility, high melting point, and low bioavailability, which greatly limit their application in foods. Numerous studies have been undertaken to modify their chemical structures to improve their chemical and physical properties in meeting the needs of various applications. The present review is to summarize the literature and update the progress on structural modifications of plant sterols in the following aspects: (i) synthesis of plant sterol esters by esterification and transesterification with hydrophobic fatty acids and triacylglycerols to improve their oil solubility, (ii) synthesis of plant sterol derivatives by coupling with various hydrophilic moieties to enhance their water solubility, and (iii) mechanisms by which plant sterols reduce plasma cholesterol and the effect of structural modifications on plasma cholesterol-lowering activity of plant sterols.
Unlike lipid stability and oxidation studies in commonly used edible oils and margarines, margarines formulated with unconventional oils are not well characterized. This study investigated the effect of heat treatment (HT) on the stability and content of phytosterol in njangsa seed oil (NSO), bush mango oil (BMO), soybean oil (SBO), coconut oil (CCO), and margarines formulated from their blends: BN (BMO and NSO), BS (BMO and SBO), CN (CCO and NSO), CS (CCO and SBO), and commercial margarines (CM1 and CM2). Both oils and margarines were heat-treated at 130, 170, and 210°C for 10, 15, 20, and 120 min (only oils).
When processing lucuma (), waste such as shells and seeds is generated, which is a source of bioactive compounds. Recently, lucuma seed (LS), especially its oily fraction, has been studied for containing phytosterols and tocopherols, powerful antioxidants with health benefits. This study proposes lucuma seed oil (LSO) extraction using supercritical fluid (SCF) to improve the quality of the extract and minimize the environmental impact.
The effect of ozone treatment on the sensory quality, aroma compounds, phytosterols, and phytosterol oxidation products (POP) in stored plant oils was studied. Cold-pressed flaxseed, cold-pressed rapeseed, and refined rapeseed oils were treated with ozone, air, and nitrogen, then subjected to accelerated storage at 60 °C for 6 days. The sensory evaluation revealed that ozone significantly influenced the sensory profile, with notable cucumber and green-grassy aromas.
Background: The physical and mental changes created during menopause cause sexual dysfunction, which affects the quality of life, self-esteem, and emotional relationships. Wormwood cream contains tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, phytosterols, and alkaloids. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of wormwood vaginal cream on the sexual satisfaction and quality of sexual life of postmenopausal women.
Department of Biomaterials, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.
The present study was performed to synthesize eco-friendly nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) from the aqueous extract of Fissidens species (FS) and explore its biological activities. Phytochemicals, namely, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, tannins, proteins, carbohydrates and phenols, were present in the aqueous extract of Fissidens sp. The UV-Vis and FT-IR analyses of FS-NiONPs revealed a prominent peak at 392 nm, along with functional groups that facilitate the formation of FS-NiONPs.
