Anticancer effects of phytosterols

Abstract

Phytosterol and stanol (or phytosterols) consumption reduces intestinal cholesterol absorption, leading to decreased blood LDL-cholesterol levels and lowered cardiovascular disease risk. However, other biological roles for plant sterols and stanols have also been proposed. The objective of this review is to critically examine results from recent research regarding the potential effects and mechanisms of action of phytosterols on forms of cancer. Considerable emerging evidence supports the inhibitory actions of phytosterols on lung, stomach, as well as ovarian and breast cancer. Phytosterols seem to act through multiple mechanisms of action, including inhibition of carcinogen production, cancer-cell growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and through the promotion of apoptosis of cancerous cells. Phytosterol consumption may also increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes and thereby reduce oxidative stress. In addition to altering cell-membrane structure and function, phytosterols probably promote apoptosis by lowering blood cholesterol levels. Moreover, consumption of phytosterols by healthy humans at the recommended level of 2 g per day does not cause any major health risks. In summary, mounting evidence supports a role for phytosterols in protecting against cancer development. Hence, phytosterols could be incorporated in diet not only to lower the cardiovascular disease risk, but also to potentially prevent cancer development.

Phytosterols isolated from endophytic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides(Melanconiaceae)

“…On the other hand, the steroids ergosterol and ergosterol peroxide are commonly found in fungi, occurrence of phytosterols in fungi is relatively unusual (Fontaine et al 2004). The phytosterols, mainly sitosterol, have the capacity of reducing the blood cholesterol (Awad and Fink 2000), as well as phytosterols can be used to fight of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and inflammatory process (Fernandes and Cabral 2007;Woyengo et al 2009;Poli and Marangoni 2010).…”

The study of steroidal compounds in canna plant material

“…Встановлено, що фітостероли можуть успішно застосовуватись у боротьбі з онкологічними захво-рюваннями, зокрема, у випадках раку прямої кишки, простати та молочних залоз [5]. Стероїдні сполуки також виявляють протизапальну дію [6].…”

Plant sterols for human health- A review

“…On colon and prostate cancer: There is no strong and consistent evidence that sitosterol intake affects either colon or prostate cancer. (Kennedy, 1995, Klippel et al, 1997 but Woyengo et al (2009) reported the inhibitory action of phytosterols on lung, stomach and ovarian cancer. On membrane properties: Plant sterols and stanols are incorporated into cellular membranes (Child and Kuksis, 1982) and may consequently influence membrane properties.…”