Stigmasterol

Stigmasterol

Stigmasterol is a phytosterol with a molecular weight of 412.691 and a formula of C29H48O. It is also known as Wulzen anti-stiffness factor.

Stigmasterol is one of a group of plant sterols, or phytosterols, that includes beta-sitosterol, campesterol, ergosterol (provitamin D2), brassicasterol, delta-7-stigmasterol and delta-7-avenasterol, that are chemically similar to animal cholesterol.

The structures of beta-sitosterol and campesterol are virtually indistinguishable from that of cholesterol.

Phytosterols are insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents and contain one alcohol functional group.

Stigmasterol is an unsaturated plant sterol occurring in the plant fats or oils of soybean, calabar bean, and rape seed, and in a number of medicinal herbs, including the Chinese herbs Ophiopogon japonicus, or Mai men dong, and American Ginseng.

Stigmasterol is also found in various vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization will inactivate stigmasterol.

It is used as a precursor in the manufacture of synthetic progesterone, a valuable human hormone that plays an important physiological role in the regulatory and tissue rebuilding mechanisms related to estrogen effects, as well as acting as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of androgens, estrogens, and corticoids.

Research has indicated that stigmasterol may be useful in prevention of certain cancers, including ovarian, prostate, breast and colon cancers.

Studies have also indicated that a diet high in phytoesterols may inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and lower serum cholesterol levels by competing for intestinal absorption.

Studies with laboratory animals fed stigmasterol found that both cholesterol and sitosterol absorption decreased 23% and 30% respectively over a 6 week period.

Phytosterols normally are broken down into bile.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • stigmasterol — [stig mas′tə rôl΄, stig mas′tərōl΄] n. [contr. < ModL Physostigma (see PHYSOSTIGMINE) + STEROL] a sterol, C29H48O, isolated from soy or Calabar beans …   English World dictionary

  • Stigmasterol — Strukturformel Allgemeines Name Stigmasterin Andere Namen Stigmasterol Stigmasta 5,22 dien 3β ol (22E,24 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • stigmasterol — noun Etymology: New Latin Physostigma (genus including the Calabar bean, a source of stigmasterol) + International Scientific Vocabulary sterol Date: 1907 a crystalline sterol C29H48O obtained especially from soybean oil …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • stigmasterol — /stig mas teuh rawl , rohl /, n. Biochem. a crystalline, water insoluble steroid, C29H48O, present in soybeans or calabar beans, used chiefly as a raw material in the manufacture of progesterone. [1920 25; < NL (Physo)stigma (see PHYSOSTIGMINE) + …   Universalium

  • stigmasterol — noun A phytosterol that occurs in soybeans and similar plants …   Wiktionary

  • stigmasterol — stig·mas·ter·ol stig mas tə .rȯl, .rōl n a crystalline sterol C29H48O obtained esp. from soybean oil * * * stig·mas·te·rol (stig masґtə rol) an unsaturated plant sterol initially isolated from the Calabar bean (Physostigma) and also found… …   Medical dictionary

  • stigmasterol — n. chemical substance found in soybeans (used to produce the hormone progesterone) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • stigmasterol — stig·mas·ter·ol …   English syllables

  • stigmasterol — stigˈmastəˌrȯl, rōl noun ( s) Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary stigma (from New Latin Physostigma) + sterol more at physostigma : a crystalline steroid alcohol C29H47 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Percy Lavon Julian — Infobox Person name = Percy Lavon Julian image size = 250px caption = Julian circa 1940–1950 birth date = birth date|1899|4|11|mf=y birth place = Montgomery, Alabama death date = death date and age|1975|4|19|1899|4|11|mf=y death place = Waukegan …   Wikipedia

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