Phytosterols chemistry

Cercaci, L., Rodriguez-Estrada, M.T., Lercker, G., Decker, E.A. (2007). Phytosterol oxidation in oil-in-water emulsions and bulk oil. Food Chemistry, 102, 161-167. 

Fig. 23.14. Dealkylation of phytosterols (modified from Harrison, 1985 used with permission of the copyright owner, The Royal Society of Chemistry, London).

Goad, L. J., Inhibition of phytosterol biosynthesis and the consequences for plant growth, in Ecological Chemistry Biochemistry of Plant Terpenoids (J. B. Harbome and F. A. Tomas-Barber, eds.). Phytochemistry Society of Europe Vol. 31, 209-229, Clarendon, Oxford, 1991b. 

Steroids and sterols are vital to all life forms. Sterols from plants are called phytosterols and sterols from animals are zoosterols. Cholesterol is the most important sterol in animals. It serves as an essential structural component of the cell membrane to establish membrane permeability and fluidity, and also acts as a precursor to the S5Tithesis of steroid hormones and fat-soluble vitamins. Cholesterol is produced in the body, and we will illustrate pol5mier chemistry using this example. Cholesterol is ingested from food however, diet contributes < 10% of the total blood cholesterol level. All steroids and sterols made in cells are derived from the cyclization of squalene (Figure 4.2 note the red... 

Singh V Moreau RA, Hicks KB. 2003. Yield and Phytosterol Composition of Oil Extracted from Grain Sorghum and Its Wet-MiUed Fractions. Cereal Chemistry 80 126-129. 

Borel P (2003) Factors affecting intestinal absorption of highly lipophilic food microconstituents (fat-soluble vitamins, carotenoids and phytosterols). Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory... 

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