Isolation of phytosterols and antihyperlipidemic activity of Lagenaria siceraria

Abstract

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl in the Cucurbitaceae family is a large, pubescent, climbing, or trailing herb cultivated throughout India and the tropical regions of the world. Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract obtained from the fruits of the plant L. siceraria showed a positive Liebermann-Burchard test for sterols. The white sterol crystals or phytosterols from the methanol extract were isolated for the first time and identified as a mixture of four sterols, including fucosterol (1), racemosol (2), stigmasterol (3), and stigmasta-7,22-dien-3β,4β-diol (4). These compounds were identified by spectroscopic evidence including FTIR, (1)H-NMR, MS, and GC. The white sterol crystals, which are the mixture of four sterols, were evaluated for antihyperlipidemic activity in Wistar rats. The blood samples were collected from the retro-orbital plexus and serum was separated and analyzed for lipid profiles. These sterol crystals (30 mg/kg) showed significant reductions in lipid profiles which included cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL. In addition, a significant increase in HDL cholesterol observed, which is a good cholesterol that protects hearts from coronary artery diseases. These sterol crystals or phytosterols can be used as an antihyperlipidemic agent to treat the hyperlipidemic.

Fucosterol Inhibits Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression and Promotes Type‐1 Procollagen Production in UVB‐induced HaCaT Cells

“…Fucosterol, a natural sterol compound isolated from marine brown algae, has been reported to possess antioxidant, anticancer, antihyperlipidemic, antifungal and antidiabetic properties . However, it is not known whether fucosterol exerts anti‐photoaging effects in human keratinocytes (HaCaT).…”

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“…The powdered material was extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus carried out successively with petroleum ether (60-80), methanol and water by maceration. Each time before extracting with the next solvent, the powdered material was air dried at room temperature and extract the obtained was concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain a crude dried residue 7 .…”

“…At this time, an insoluble unsaponifiable portion, which comprises the undesirable gummy material, formed a layer at the bottom of the vessel; the sterols and acetonitrile resolved in a clear solution. This sterol-acetonitrile solution was then decanted and formation of white sterol crystals 9 .…”

Deciphering Molecular Mechanism of the Neuropharmacological Action of Fucosterol through Integrated System Pharmacology and In Silico Analysis

“…Fucosterol is an algal sterol, which is isolated mostly from brown algae, indicating its abundance in this particular algal class. Evidence from the literatures supports its various biological activities, including antioxidant [6,7,8,9], anti-inflammatory [7,8,10,11,12,13], anticancer [14,15], antidiabetic [16], cholesterol homeostasis [17], cholesterol-lowering [18], antihyperlipidemic [19], hepatoprotective [6,20,21], immunostimulatory [22], antimicrobial [23], antiobesity [24,25], and antidepressant [26] potentials. Moreover, fucosterol exhibits inhibitory activity against acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase (AChE and BChE) [27,28] and β-secretase (an enzyme responsible for Aβ production, which is related to Alzheimer’s disease) [29].…”