- Beta-sitosterol
Chembox new
ImageFile = Sitosterol structure.svg
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Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 19044-06-5
PubChem = 86821
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Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = C29H50O
MolarMass = 414.707
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Section3 = Chembox Hazards
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Autoignition =β-sitosterol is one of several
phytosterol s withchemical structure s similar to that ofcholesterol . It is white in colour and waxy in nature.ources
It is widely distributed in the
plant kingdom and found in pecans, Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), avocados,Curcurbita pepo (pumpkin seed ),Pygeum africanum ,cashew fruit,rice bran ,wheat germ ,corn oil s,soybean s,sea-buckthorn and wolfberries.Uses
Alone and in combination with similar phytosterols, β-sitosterol reduces
blood levels ofcholesterol , and is sometimes used in treatinghypercholesterolemia .One small study shows a positive effect on male hair loss in combination with Saw palmetto. [cite journal |author=Prager N, Bickett K, French N, Marcovici G |title=A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of botanically derived inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia |journal=Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=143–52 |year=2002 |pmid=12006122 |doi=10.1089/107555302317371433]
In Europe iβ-sitosterol plays a major role in treatment of
herbal therapy ofbenign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)Fact|date=February 2008.It is also used in Europe for the treatment of prostatic carcinoma and breast cancerFact|date=February 2008 although the benefits are still being evaluated in the United StatesFact|date=February 2008.
References
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