Phytosterol Profiling of Apiaceae Family Seeds Spices Using GC-MS

Abstract

Phytosterols are nutritionally vital phytoconstituent owing to their cholesterol (low-density plasma lipoprotein-cholesterol, LDL-C)-lowering, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Among the widely used spices and herbs, the seeds spices of the Apiaceae family represented the healthiest fatty acid profile. Thus, to explore the other health-beneficial lipids, the present study was aimed to analyze the phytosterol profile of eight seed spices of the Apiaceae family, utilizing gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). The sterols contents calculated on an oil (mg/100 g of oil) and spice weight (mg/100 g spices; dry weight) basis varied significantly among the seed spices (p < 0.05; Turkey HSD). The β-sitosterol and stigmasterol were the most dominating sterols among the studied spices, together accounted for 40.3 (Ajwain) to 69.8% (celery) of total sterols in the seed oil. Among the studied spices, the oil extracted from caraway seeds showed the highest total sterols (602.2 mg/100 g of oil). Interestingly, based on spice weight, fennel seeds also showed the similar highest number of total sterols (134.2 mg/100 g in fennel and 133.3 mg/100 g in caraway), owing to the high contents of oil (25.9%) in fennel seeds. Overall, celery, caraway, fennel, and anise seeds oil are rich sources of health-beneficial phytosterols.

Phytochemical Analysis of Acaciaehrenbergiana (Hayne) Grown in Qatar: Identification of Active Ingredients and Their Biological Activities

“…Stigmasterol inhibits several pro-inflammatory and matrix degradation mediators typically involved in osteoarthritis-induced cartilage degradation, at least in part through the inhibition of the NF-kappa B pathway [ 28 ]. Spinasterol, another phytosterol identified in this study, exhibits anticancer, antiproliferative, COX inhibition with antinociceptive effects, and anti-inflammatory actions [ 29 , 30 ]. The anti-inflammatory effects of the Acacia ehrenbergiana extracts could be partially attributed to the stigmasterol and spinasterol compounds.…”

Beneficial effects of Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract on letrozole-induced polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in rat model

“…Among the three different doses of T. polium, the 50 mg/kg dose showed the most beneficial effect on these hormonal modifications. T. polium contains β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, which have antiandrogenic properties that reduce testosterone levels by inhibiting the dihydrotestosterone-receptor complex [28][29][30]. In contrast, Al-Tikriti reported that the hexane extract of T. polium caused a significant increase in testosterone levels in male rats owing to the downregulation of androgen receptors [31].…”

Emerging Biopharmaceuticals from Pimpinella Genus

“…Surprisingly, the variety and activity of sterols in P. anisum are research worthy. R. K. Saini, et al acquired phytosterol profiling of P. anisum seeds by GC-MS measure [ 74 ]. It was surveyed that the total sterol content in seeds oil was 551.9 mg/100 g, and five sterols were identified, including the dominant ingredient α-spinasterol ( 282 ) (109 mg/100 g oil; 19.9% of the total sterols), campesterol ( 281 ), stigmasta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol ( 283 ), Δ7-avenasterol ( 284 ), and Δ5-avenasterol( 285 ).…”