Phytosterols in edible oil:Distribution,analysis and variation during processing

Phytosterols,which are naturally occurring in plants,have excellent nutritional and health values on lowering both the blood cholesterol level and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.Edible oils are the main source of daily intake of phytosterols,whereas the properties of phytosterols may vary a lot depending on their sources.During the processing of edible oil including refining and frying,phytosterol's content fluctuates,which influences the properties of the final product.Phytosterols and their derivatives undergo physical migration between different phases and chemical conversion during the processing,which reduces the quality and the commercial value of edible oils.Therein,the loss of phytosterols is the major concern in the process of neutralization and deodorization.In addition,oxidation and thermal degradation of phytosterols occur simultaneously during frying,which also reduces the content of phytosterols.Nevertheless,the oil matrix has a promoting or an inhibitory effect on the thermal oxidation of phytosterols.Therefore,various efforts have been devoted to analyzing and improving the remaining contents of phytosterols in edible oil.Regardless of the processing method,temperature plays an important role in the loss of phytosterols.At present,themain analysismethods of phytosterols include gas chromatography and liquid chromatography,inwhich the pretreatment of different types of phytosterols is also a crucial step.This review focused on the following topics comprehensively:(i)the distribution of phytosterols in the oil-containing plants and edible oils during the refining processing;(ii)the pretreatment and analysis methods of various phytosterols(free phytosterols,phytosteryl fatty acid esters,phytosteryl glycosides and acylated phytosteryl glycosides);(iii)the variation of phytosterols in process of esterification and oxidation,storage and so on.The study also proposed that the investigation in the loss and safety of phytosterols during processing of the vegetable oils should be proceeded further in combination with efficient and accurate chromatography methods.

Biosynthesis of Succulent Bamboo Shoots of Bambusa balcooa into Phytosterols and Its Biotransformation into ADD

Fermentation of the succulent bamboo shoots of Bambusa balcooa Roxb. resulted in an enrichment of phytosterols from 0.12% to 0.62% dry weight as compared to that of the fresh unfermented samples. The bacterial strains responsible for higher accumulation of phytosterols during fermentation of the bamboo shoots have been isolated and further extraction and purification of the crude phytosterols (isolated from the fermented samples) were done by TLC, UV, NMR, IR and Mass spectral analysis. The isolated phytosterols (β-sitos-terols) were then subjected to microbial transformation which yielded a considerable amount of androsta-1, 4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) in the incubation mixture in presence of metabolic inhibitors (α, α＇-dipyridyl and sodium arsenate).

Determination of phytosterols in <i>Oryza sativa</i>L. cultivars by liquid chromatography atmospheric chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-APCI-TOF-MS) coupled with a modified QuEChERS method

Development of analytical methods for the determination of phytosterols in whole grains is one of growing interests due to their clinical and nutritional functions in human. In this study, we examined simultaneous determination of β-si tosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol in Korean rice cultivars by liquid chromatography atmospheric chemical ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (LC-APCI-TOF-MS). The hulled rice samples were extracted using a modified QuEChERS and analyzed by LC-APCI -TOF-MS. The method was validated by low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values and high recovery values with low relative standard deviation (RSD). The highest concentration of sitosterol was detected in Hwasung and Undu rice cultivars, exhibiting approximately 195.5 and 191.7 mg/Kg, respectively. Stigmasterol and campesterol were detected at the highest level in Hwasung rice cultivar, giving the concentrations of approximately 70.0 and 53.9 mg/Kg, respectively. Sitosterol was determined to be a main phytosterol detected in the rice samples. Our data demonstrated that LC/APCI-TOF- MS coupled with QuEChERS method can be used as a simple tool for the determination of phytosterols in rice samples.

Contents of Phytosterols in Vegetables and Fruits Commonly Consumed in China

Objective To quantify five specific dietary phytosterols and phytostanols in vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in China. Methods A total of 34 different kinds of vegetables and 33 kinds of fruits were chosen according to the consuming habit of Chinese people. All the samples were purchased from two shops in Beijing. The contents of phytosterols （13-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, 13-sitostanol, and campestanol） were analyzed by GLC method which was established by our laboratory, and the total phytosterols were calculated. Results The total phytosterol content in vegetables ranged 1.1-53.7 mg/100 g edible portion. The highest concentration was found in pea, cauliflower, broccoli, and romaine lettuce. The phytosterol contents in fruits ranged 1.6-32.6 mg/100 g, the highest concentration was found in navel orange, tangerine, and mango. Conclusion The phytosterol contents in vegetables and fruits are not as high as those in edible oils, but because of the large amount of consumption, they also play an important role in increasing the people＇s phytosterols intake, indicating that increased intake of vegetables and fruits with higher phytosterol contents helps increase the phytosterol intake in China.

REFINING OF SULFATE SOAP AND EXTRACTING OF PHYTOSTEROLS

The sulfatc soap is refined through extracting unsaponifiable neutral substance using ethyl acetate and hcxane-acetone. The content of neutral substance in tall oil decreases from 32.8% to 17.4% and 18%. The acid number of tall oil increases from 119 to 169 and 153. The quality of tall oil is greatly improved. This provides a favorable condition for distillation of tall oil. The unsaponifiable neutral substance from crude sulfate soap mainly consists of tcrpene aldehydes, tcrpcnc alcohols, fatty alcohols and stcrols in which larixol is 26.3% and 18. 5%, stcrols arc 17% and 27.1% separately. The white crystals containing stcrols of 96.9% are obtained by crystallization and rccrystallization. The stcrols arc mainly β-sitostcrol and campcsterol.

Physiological Functions of Phytosterols and Their Application in Food

Phytosterols are a kind of active ingredients in plants with various physiological functions.Phytosterols have a good effect in antagonizing cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular diseases.They also have physiological functions including regulating growth,promoting protein synthesis,resisting inflammation,oxidation and cancer,and regulating immune and parahormones.In this paper,the physicochemical properties of phytosterols,the mechanism of lowering cholesterol,their application in food field and their development prospects were systematically reviewed.

Seasonal variation in dietary intake and its association with obesity-related chronic diseases in northeast China

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess seasonal changes in dietary and nutrient intake of residents(18-75 years old)in Northeast China during summer and winter,and to explore the associations between fatty acids,phytosterols,and the prevalence of obesity-related chronic diseases,particularly obesity,hyperlipidemia,and NAFLD.Methods:A total of 4773 participants from the Internet-based Dietary Questionnaire for Chinese(IDQC)were included in this study.Dietary intake information was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire.Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyze continuous variables,while Chi-squared tests were used to compare categorical variables.Multivariable logistic regression was employed to assess the relationship between fatty acids,phytosterols,and obesity-related chronic diseases.Results:The mean consumption of legumes,vegetables,fruits,nuts,dairy products,fish,condiments,energy,protein,fat,and carbohydrate differed significantly between summer and winter(P<0.05).Significant inverse associations were found between both fatty acids and phytosterols and obesity-related chronic diseases in multivariate adjusted models.Summer polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA)intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of hyperlipidemia(Q4,OR,0.515;95%CI,0.283-0.921;P<0.05)and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)(Q4,OR,0.331;95%CI,0.176-0.599;P<0.001).Phytosterols intake was negatively associated with the prevalence of obesity(Q4,OR,0.603;95%CI,0.414-0.873;P<0.05),hyperlipidemia(Q4,OR,0.420;95%CI,0.233-0.731;P<0.001),and NAFLD(Q4,OR,0.206;95%CI,0.111-0.360;P<0.001)during the summer.Conclusions:Higher PUFA intake was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity,hyperlipidemia,and NAFLD.Phytosterol intake was inversely associated with the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and NAFLD.These findings suggest that the associations between PUFA and phytosterols and the prevalence of obesity-related chronic diseases may be influenced by seasonal differences in food intake.

Phytosterol content and the campesterol:sitosterol ratio influence cotton fiber development: role of phytosterols in cell elongation

Phytosterols play an important role in plant growth and development, including cell division, cell elongation, embryogenesis, cellulose biosynthesis, and cell wall formation. Cotton fiber, which undergoes synchronous cell elongation and a large amount of cellulose synthesis, is an ideal model for the study of plant cell elongation and cell wall biogenesis. The role of phytosterols in fiber growth was investigated by treating the fibers with tfidemorph, a sterol biosynthetic inhibitor. The inhibition of phy- tosterol biosynthesis resulted in an apparent suppression of fiber elongation in vitro or in planta. The determination of phy- tosterol quantity indicated that sitosterol and campesterol were the major phytosterols in cotton fibers; moreover, higher con- centrations of these phytosterols were observed during the period of rapid elongation of fibers. Furthermore, the decrease and increase in campesterol：sitosterol ratio was associated with the increase and decease in speed of elongation, respectively, dur- ing the elongation stage. The increase in the ratio was associated with the transition from cell elongation to secondary cell wall synthesis. In addition, a number of phytosterol biosynthetic genes were down-regulated in the short fibers of ligon lintless-1 mutant, compared to its near-isogenic wild-type TM-1. These results demonstrated that phytosterols play a crucial role in cot- ton fiber development, and particularly in fiber elongation.

OsFK1 encodes C-14 sterol reductase,which is involved in sterol biosynthesis and affects premature aging of leaves in rice

The enzyme C-14 sterol reductase is involved in biosynthesis of brassinosteroids(BR)and sterols,as well as plant development.OsFK1,a member of the sterol biosynthesis pathway located in the endoplasmic reticulum(ER),encodes C-14 sterol reductase.However,there is little research on the function of C-14 sterol reductase in rice.Compared with the wild type,an osfk1 mutant showed dwarf phenotype and premature aging in the second leaf during the trefoil stage,and abnormal development of leaf veins during the tillering stage.The osfk1 mutant showed signs of aberrant PCD,as evidenced by TUNEL staining.This suggested that high ROS buildup caused DNA damage and ROS-mediated cell death in the mutant.The osfk1 mutant also showed decreased chlorophyll content and aberrant chloroplast structure.Sequencing of the osfk1 mutant allele revealed a non-synonymous G to A mutation in the final intron,leading to early termination.Here,we identified the OsFK1 allele,cloned it by Mutmap sequencing,and verified it by complementation.HPLC-MS/MS assays demonstrated that the osfk1 mutation caused lower phytosterol levels.These findings showed that the OsFK1 allele encoding C-14 sterol reductase is involved in phytosterol biosynthesis and mediates normal development of rice plants.

Research progress on classification,source,application of phytosterol esters,and their thermal oxidation stability

Phytosterol esters can effectively decrease serum cholesterol concentration in the human body and prevent cardio-cerebrovascular diseases.It was found that phytosterol esters exhibited better solubility and bioavailability than free phytosterols.In recent years,phytosterol esters have attracted increasing attention.However,during food processing,phytosterol esters are susceptible to degradation at high temperatures,resulting in certain losses and formation of potentially harmful substances for humans.This paper reviews the relevant literatures and updates on the thermal oxidation stability of phytosterol esters in recent years from the following aspects:(i)Sources,physiological activities,and applications of phytosterol esters;(ii)Oxidation mechanism of phytosterol esters;(iii)Effects of phytosterols species,the volume of addition,food matrix,heating temperature and time,and antioxidants on the thermal loss and oxidation stability of phytosterol esters.The research progress on the safety of phytosterol esters is also discussed in detail.Additionally,the prospects for future research are highlighted.

Improving the biotransformation efficiency of soybean phytosterols in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum by the combined deletion of fbpC3 and embC in cell envelope synthesis

Biotransformation of soybean phytosterols into 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione(9-OHAD)by mycobacteria is the core step in the synthesis of adrenocortical hormone.However,the low permeability of the dense cell envelope largely inhibits the overall conversion efficiency of phytosterols.The antigen 85(Ag85)complex encoded by fbpA,fbpB,and fbpC was proposed as the key factor in the combined catalysis of mycoloyl for producing mycolyl-arabinogalactan(m-AG)and trehalose dimycolate(TDM)in mycobacterial cell envelope.Herein,we confirmed that fbpC3 was essential for the biotransformation of trehalose monomycolate(TMM)to TDM in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum.The deficiency of this gene raised the cell permeability,thereby enhancing the steroid uptake and utilization.The 9-OHAD yield in the fbpC3-deficient 9-OHAD-producing strain was increased by 21.3%.Moreover,the combined deletion of fbpC3 and embC further increased the 9-OHAD yield compared to the single deletion of fbpC3.Finally,after 96 h of bioconversion in industrial resting cells,the 9-OHAD yield of 11.2 g/L was achieved from 20 g/L phytosterols and the productivity reached 0.116 g/L/h.In summary,this study suggested the critical role of the fbpC3 gene in the synthesis of TDM in M.neoaurum and verified the feasibility of improving the bioconversion efficiency of phytosterols through the cell envelope en-gineering strategy.

Chemical composition of walnuts from three regions in China

To reveal the characteristic chemicals of walnuts from different origins, we analyzed fatty acid composition,tocopherols, phytosterols and total phenolic content (TPC) of walnuts from three main producing regions inChina. The results showed that walnuts were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 fattyacids was close to the recommendation of Chinese Nutrition Society. Moreover, walnuts contain high contents oftocopherols (331.20–414.71 mg/kg), phytosterols (97.17–110.35 mg/100 g) and phenols (38.51–48.08 mg GAE/kg). Significant chemical differences exist among walnuts from three production regions. The highest content ofpolyunsaturated fatty acids was found in walnuts from the northern China, the highest content of tocopherols inwalnuts from southwest China, and the highest contents of phytosterol and TPC in walnuts from northwest China.However, there was no significant difference in the tocopherol, phytosterol and TPC content of walnuts betweenthe Northern China and Northwest China. The above results provide important references for manufacturers andconsumers to select suitable walnut scientifically and reasonably.

Comparative advantages of chemical compositions of specific edible vegetable oils

As important supplementary to major edible oils, comparative chemical advantages of minor edible oils decidetheir development and usage. In this study, chemical composition of 13 kinds of specific edible vegetable oilswere investigated. The comparative advantages of chemical compositions of these edible oils were obtained asfollows: (1) camellia, tiger nut and almond oil were rich in oleic acid, the contents of which accounted for79.43%, 69.16% and 66.26%, respectively;(2) safflower oil contained the highest content of linoleic acid(76.69%), followed by grape seed (66.85%) and walnut oil (57.30%);(3) perilla seed, siritch, peony seed andherbaceous peony seed oil were rich in α-linolenic acid (59.61%, 43.74%, 40.83% and 30.84%, respectively);(4)the total phytosterol contents of these oils ranged from 91.46 mg/100 g (camellia oil) to 506.46 mg/100 g (siritchoil);and (5) The best source of tocopherols was sacha inchi oil (122.74 mg/100 g), followed by perilla seed oil(55.89 mg/100 g), peony seed oil (53.73 mg/100 g) and herbaceous peony seed oil (47.17 mg/100 g). Thecomparative advantages of these specific edible oils indicated that they possess the high potential nutritionalvalues and health care functions.

Plant-based diet and its effect on coronary artery disease:A narrative review

Coronary artery disease(CAD),a primary component of cardiovascular diseases,is one of the top contributors to mortality rates worldwide.In 2021,dietary risk was estimated to be attributed to 6.58 million cardiovascular deaths.Plant-based diets(PBDs),which encourage higher consumption of plant foods and lower intake of animal-based foods,have been shown to reduce the risk of CAD by up to 29% when compared to non-vegetarian diets in a meta-analysis.This article aims to summarize the array of PBDs and compare them with conventional Western diets that include meat.We review the various proposed mechanisms for how the bioactive nutrients of PBDs aid in preventing atherosclerosis and CAD events,as well as other cardiac diseases.We conducted a detailed search of PubMed using our exclusive search strategy using the keywords plant-based diet,vegan diet,phytosterols,CAD,myocardial ischemia,and atherosclerosis.A total of 162 pertinent articles published within the past decade were identified for qualitative synthesis.To ensure the accuracy and reliability of our review,we included a total of 55 full-text,peer-reviewed articles that demonstrated the effects of plant-based diets on CAD and were written in English.We excluded animal studies,in vitro or molecular studies,and non-original data like editorials,letters,protocols,and conference abstracts.In this article,we emphasize the importance of dietary interventions,such as PBDs,to prevent CAD and their benefits on environmental sustainability.Integrating plant foods and whole grains into one's daily eating habits leads to an increase in the intake of nutrient-rich foods while reducing the consumption of processed food could not only prevent millions of premature deaths but also provide prevention against many chronic gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases.

A Dipeptide Isolated from Aster tataricus L.f

从紫菀AastertataricusL.f的根及根茎中分离鉴定出6个化合物，分别为auraniamideacetate;shionone,triedelm,epitrriedelanol,triedel-3-ene和stigmasterol.其中aurantiamideacetate和triedel-3-ene为首次从菊科植物中分得。

Edible seaweed-derived constituents: an undisclosed source of neuroprotective compounds

Edible marine algae,or seaweeds,are a rich source of several bioactive compounds including phytosterols,carotenoids,and polysaccharides.Over the last decades,seaweed-derived constituents turned out to not only reside in the systemic circulation,but are able to cross the blood-brain barrier to exert neuro-active functions both in homeostatic and pathological conditions.Therefore,seaweed-derived constituents have gained increasing interest for their neuro-immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties,rendering them interesting candidates for the management of several neurodegenerative disorders.In particular seaweed-derived phytosterols gained interest for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders as they potentiate neuroplasticity,enhance phagocytic clearance of neurotoxic peptides and have anti-inflammatory properties.Though,the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of other constituents including carotenoids,phenols and polysaccharides have recently gained more interest.In this review,we provide an overview of a selection of the described neuro-active properties of seaweed-derived constituents with a focus on phytosterols.

High Fibre Diets and Alzheimer’s Disease

The understanding of cholesterol and its pathogenesis to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenic process is important for the possible prevention of AD. High fibre diets that contain phytosterols have been shown to lower LDL and increase HDL cholesterol and are implicated in membrane cholesterol and amyloid beta (Aβ) homeostasis. The convergence of diet and AD may be related to the effects of phytosterols since plasma cholesterol is closely linked and regulated by phytosterols. Dietary fibre modifications that are low in fat and glucose reduce the risk for AD by not only effecting cell membranes and nutrient sensing G coupled receptors but also by regulating number of nuclear receptors such as histone deacetylases (HDAC) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPAR) that control glucose, fatty acids and cholesterol and have significant effects on the brain cholesterol homeostasis and amyloidosis. The peripheral sink Aβ hypothesis indicates that the peripheral clearance of Aβ and its regulation by dietary phytosterols is of substantial interest since it may delay hypercholesterolemia and the early onset of amyloid plaque development. Liver disease has been of central importance with aging and programmed cell death pathways. Nutritional therapy has emerged as a novel approach to control appetite and the role of nutrigenomics as an early nutritional therapy may assist genes to delay liver and brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Huntington’s disease (HD) that are associated with aging. The understanding of phytosterols and the role of these lipids in drug therapy such as cholesterol lowering drugs may provide molecular mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of cell Aβ clearance and metabolism. High fibre diets also contain various fatty acids such as the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and the understanding of synergistic effects of SCFA and phytosterols in glucose regulation and cholesterol homeostasisis important to our understanding of diet, lifestyle and drugs in relation to peripheral amyloidosis and gene expression that play an early role in the development of AD.

Molecular Identification and Expression Analysis of GhHYDRA1 Gene, a Homologue of HYDRA1 Gene From Upland Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Beside as precursors of BRs biosynthesis, more and more evidences supported that phytosterols play an important role in plant growth and development. To investigate the effects of phytosterols on the fiber development of upland cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） and the molecular base of sterol regulating cotton fiber growth, a homologue of HYDRA1 was cloned from upland cotton （cv. Xuzhou 142） by screening cotton fiber EST database and contigging the candidate ESTs. The GhHYDRA1 encoded a polypeptide of 218 amino acid residues and the deduced amino acid sequences had high homology with the members of HYDRA1 in Populus trichocarpa, Solanum tuberosum, and Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, GhHYDRA1 had comparable transmembrane regions to AtHYDRA1 in sequence, length, order, and spacing, except for a C-terminal polylysine cluster. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed that the higher expression levels of GhHYDRA1 gene were detected in 6 to 12 DPA （days post anthesis） fibers, while the lower levels were observed in 0 DPA ovule （with fibers） and 16 to 18 DPA fibers. These results indicated that GhHYDRA1 is the homologue of HYDRA1 gene and plays a crucial role in fiber elongation. Furthermore, auxin and BL up-regulated the expression level of GhHYDRA1 while ABA and KT down-regulated the expression level of GhHYDRA1 in cotton ovule and fiber growth. The result suggested that phytosterols play a role in the interaction of plant hormones.

Corrigendum:Edible seaweed-derived constituents:an undisclosed source of neuroprotective compounds

Edible marine algae,or seaweeds,are a rich source of several bioactive compounds including phytosterols,carotenoids,and polysaccharides.Over the last decades,seaweedderived constituents turned out to not only reside in the systemic circulation,but are able to cross the blood-brain barrier to exert neuro-active functions both in homeostatic and pathological conditions.Therefore,seaweed-derived constituents have gained increasing interest for their neuro-immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties,rendering them interesting candidates for the management of several neurodegenerative disorders.In particular seaweed-derived phytosterols gained interest for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders as they potentiate neuroplasticity,enhance phagocytic clearance of neurotoxic peptides and have anti-inflammatory properties.Though,the antiinflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of other constituents including carotenoids,phenols and polysaccharides have recently gained more interest.In this review,we provide an overview of a selection of the described neuro-active properties of seaweed-derived constituents with a focus on phytosterols.

A tribute to Dr.Frank I Tovey on his 90th birthday

This paper pays a tribute to Dr.Frank I Tovey on his 90th birthday which happens on September 1,2011,and briefly describes the major findings in his research career and contributions as follows.The geographical prevalence of duodenal ulceration is related to staple diets.Unrefined wheat and maize,soya,certain pulses and millets are associated with a low prevalence while refined wheat,maize and rice,yams,cassava and green banana with a high prevalence.Predominant foodstuffs from low prevalence areas are ulceroprotective in rat peptic ulcer models.The protective activity lies in the lipid fraction present in these foodstuffs.The lipid fraction also promotes ulcer healing,is active both orally and intramuscularly and is ulceroprotective against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs).The phospholipids and phytosterols present in the lipid have been identified to be responsible for this protective activity.The combination of phospholipids and phytosterols may be of value in the prevention and treatment of duodenal ulceration and protection against the ulcerogenic effect of NSAIDs.