Antihyperglycemic and insulin-releasing effects of B-sitosterol 3-B-D-glucoside and Its aglycone, B-sitosterol

Author: M.D. Ivorra, M.P. D'Ocon M. Paya and A. Villar
Source: Archives of the Intemational Phamnacodyn, v.296,pp.224-231, Aprii 1988

An animal experiment was performed to determine the effects of the phytosterols, B-sitosterol and its glucoside, B-sitosterolin on plasma insulin and glucose levels in normal and hyperglycemic rats. The results indicate that when either phytosterol was administered orally, it increased the fasting insulin levels and lowered, the fasting glucose levels. In an oral glucose tolerance test, the phytosterols protected the animal from an excessive rise in serum glucose levels due to the glucose loading. The results indicated that the B-sitosterol was more active over time in moderating glucose levels than the glucoside, B-sitosterolin. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of the sterols and sterolins are thought to be due to an increase in circulating insulin levels which is attributable to a stimulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic B-cells. These results indicate a possible anti-hyperglycemic use for the phytosterols in the prevention and treatment of pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions.

Anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of B-sitosterol

Author: M. B. Gupta, R. Nath, N. Srivastava, K. Shanker, K. Kishor and K.P. Bharguva
Source: Planta medica (Jouma/ of Medicinal Plant Research) v.39,pp.157-163, 1980

A basic research study using animal experiments was performed to determine whether sterols (plant fats) had any therapeutic properties such as reducing inflammation (antiinflammatory), reducing fever (antipyretic) and reducing pain (analgesic). An extract of sterols from the seeds of the Indian herbal plant Cyperus rotundus was used in three separate experiments with rats to aetermine the medicinal properties. It was demonstrated that sterols possess potent antiinflammatory properties s,milar to cortisone. Sterols were also demonstrated to reduce experimentally-produced edema. Sterols were also shown to have fever-reducing properties similar to aspirin (ASA). However, the sterols did not possess any pain-reducing or analgesic properties. In separate toxicology tests, sterols were shown to possess a very large margin of safety and produced minimal side effects such as gastric ulceration. The study concluded that sterois possess highly potent anti-inflammatory and antipyretic actions with a high margin of safety, sucgesting its application to human medicine.

An immunoendocrinological hypothesis of HIV infection

Author M. Clerici, M. Bevilacqua, T: Vago, M. L. Villa, G.M. Shearer & G. Norbiato
Source: Lancet, v. 343, pp. 1552-1553, June 18, 1994

This paper advances the hypothesis that the progression of AIDS and the dysreguiation of the immune system may be due to the immunosuppressive effects of increased cortisol levels and a decrease of DHEA levels resulting in an increased cortisol/DHEA ratio. Patients with AIDS have been observed to have a shift from type-1 to type-2 production of the immune mediators called cytokines. A reduction of Th1 lymphocytes results in the progressive reduction of interleukin-2, interleukin-12, and gamms interferon which are cytokines controlling cell-mediated immunity. Celt-mediated immunity is responsible for the control of pathogens such as viruses. At the same time Th2 lymphocytes, which stimulate humoral immunity through the secretion of the cytokines interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and interlaukin-10, are increased in AIDS patients. Normally, these two cytokine subsets promote their own secretion and su;,press the other cell line, resulting in a homeostasis between these two cell lines of the lymphocytes in AIDS patients, there is a shift to type-1 suppression and type-2 dominance, thus destroying the equilibrium of the immune system. It is postulated that the Th2 cell lines are B-cells which are natu,ally more resistant to HIV infection. The decline of the The. lymphocytes results in the devastating loss of the cell-mediated immune response, resulting in an uncontrollable increase of HlV-infected cells. It is thought that the increase in the cortisol/DHEA ratio selectively suppresses the production of type-1 cytokines and favors the production of type-2 cytokines. This results in the unfortunate crippling of the immune system and a decrease in cell-mediated immunity due to increased apoptosis of both CD4 and CD8 cells. A therapeutic strategy is suggested that by controlling the cortisol/DHEA ratio, one can reduce the overproduction of type-2 cytokines and promote the secretion of type-1 cytokines. This would result in the restoration of immune balance and stop the progression of the HIV infection and the AIDS sequelae.

The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human and animal nutrition

Author: Karl H. Pegel, Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Source: South African Joumal of Science, v. 93, pp. 263-268, June.1997

Recent research indicates that the health-promoting benefits of a plant-based diet may be due to the presence of plantderived cholesterol analogs known as sterols and sterolins. These compounds, which are structurally similar to cholesterol, are ubiquitous throughout the plant kingdom. Although absorbed at a rate 800 to 1,000 times less than cholesterol, they appear to have important immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory activities in human and animal physiology. Human research indicates plant sterols and sterolins have important anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-diabetic, anticancer and T-cell proliferative activities. Medical uses already include the treatment of hyper-cholesterolemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy and ,rheumatoid arthritis. Plant sterols and sterolins are thought to be responsible for the health benefits of a variety of medicinal herbs including saw palmetto, pygeum, pumpkin seeds, devil's claw, milk thistle, ginkgo, Panax and Siberian ginseng. They have adaptogenic properties which make them an essent al part of an optimal diet. Modern food processing and dietary choices have resulted in a daily intake less than the optimal '200-300 mg. Even some vegetarian diets appear to result in a deficient quantity of plant sterois and sterolins. Supplementation of the diet with plant sterols and sterolins provides important therapeutic as well as preventative health benefits.

Interleukins and the immune system

Author: Anne O'Garra Source: Lancet, v. 1, 8644, pp. 943-946, 1989

The immune response has two ways of dealing with foreign pathogens. The B-lymphocytes synthesize specific antibodies called immunoglobulins. This is known as humoral immunity. The other system involves T-lymphocytes which regulate the synthesis of antibodies as well as direct killer cell activity and the inflammatory response of delayed type hypersensitivity. This system is known as cell-mediated immunity. The T-cells are further divided into helper lymphocytes (Th) and cytotoxic (Tc), also known as suppressor cells. When the T-cells encounter a foreign pathogen (antigen) they further secrete a number of communication molecules called Iymphokines, cytokines, interleukins or interferons. These factors further elaborate and direct the immune response to a specific antigen. The whole process is a symphony of many cofactors which are orchestrated into a sophisticated immune response. The T-helpar cells are directly involved in assisting B-cells as well as co-ordinating their own cell-specific defense. The T-helper cells are further divided into two distinct lines of defense. The Th1 cells promote the cell-mediated line of defense and inhibit the other line known as Th2 cells which regulate the humoral defense. The Th2 cell lines control the B-cells and inhibit the cell-mediated response of the Th1 lymphocytes. A careful balance between these two functions is thus achieved. When one line predominates, there is the opportunity for immune dysregulation to occur resulting in either a hyper-immune response causing an autoimmune disease or a hypo-imrnune response resulting in an uncontrollable infection such as AIDS or tuberculosis. The Th1 helper cells secrete Iyrnphokines such as interleukin-2 and gamma interferon. Th2 helper cells secrete pro-inflammatory Iymphokines such as nterleukin-6, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10. Interleukin-l appears to be released in response to a specific injury and acts as an inflammatory mediator. Interleukin may be over-expressed in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Interleukin-1 deficiency is associated with metastatic tumors, nutritional deficiencies and certain autoimmune diseases. Interleukin-6 is associated with pro-inflammatory responses as well as mediating the proliferation and matulation of T-cells. High levels of interleukin-6 have been associated with a variety of autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, multiple myelomas, and some cancers such as cervical and bladder. Interleukin-2 is a growth factor for T-cell maturation as well as an inducer of T-cell cytotoxicity and natural killer cell activity. Interleukin-2 deficiency would cripple the cellmediated immune response and its stimulation would enhance the overall efficacy of the immune system. Immune dysregulation occurs when the two sides of the immune response become imbaianced. A greater appreciation of immunotherapies is achieved with a more detailed understanding of the complexity of the immune system.

A multicentric, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol (phytosterol) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Author: Klippel K.F.; Hiltl D.M.; Schipp B. (German BPH-Phyto Study group.)
Source: British Jouma/ of Urology, v. 80(3), pp. 427-32, Sept. 1997

This randomized placebo-controlled study involved 177 patients with an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia). This study was designed to asses the safety and efficacy of using b-sitosterol in treating this condition. Over the 6 month duration of this study individuals received 130 mg of b-sitosterol daily. Parameters used to monitor the effectiveness of this novel treatment approach included postvoid residual urinary flow rate (PVR), peak urinary flow rate (Qmax), and qualitative determinators provided by the inter- national prostate symptom scores (IPSS) and changes in the quality of life index value. Statistically significant results over the placebo control were noted. Qmax values increased by 4.5 ml while improved PVR values were noted (decrease of 33.5 ml). Quality of life scores and IPSS values also showed a statistically significant improvement. These results indicate that b-sitosterol is in fact an effective treatment option for individuals with BPH.

Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of B-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Author: R.R. Berges, J. Windeler, H.J. Trampisch, T.H. Senge and the b-sitosterol study group
Source: Lancet v. 345, no. 8964, pp. 1529-32, June 1995

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center study of 200 men with BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) treated with the phytosterol, B-sitosterol. Two hundred men were selected and followed for 6 months using a variety of lab tests, and subjective and objective symptom indicators for BPH. Half the group received the active treatment, 20 mg B-sitosterol three times daily and the other half received the placebo. The results indicate that the group treated with B-sitosterol improved in both subjective symptoms of BPH and the objective measurement of improved urine flow. These results occurred independent of a reduction in tual prostate size. Only minor side effects were observed with the phytosterol treatment group compared to the more toxic side effects associated with the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor drugs such as finaseride. No mechanism for the effects of B-sitosterol on the prostate has been elucidated as yet. This study indicates the traditional herbal treatment of BPH with saw palmetto, Pyceum africanus and pumpkin seeds may be attributable tc the phytosterol content of these herbs. A German herbal preparation sold for the last 20 years under the trade name Harzcl for the treatment of BPH contains a mixture of phytosterols including B-sitosterol.

Sterol content of foods of plant origin

Author Weihrauch J. L., Gardner J. M.
Source: Joumal of the American Dietetic Association, v. 73, pp.39-47, July 1978

Available data on phytosterols from the world's literature have been compiled and summanzed. There still exists a paucity of data on the quantities of plant sterols in many foods. More extensive data are available on the relative sterol compositions. Our compilation shows that plant oils are excellent sources of phytosterols. Nuts and seeds contain moderate levels, and fruits and vegetables generally contain the lowest concentrations of plant sterols. Analysis of the minor sterols, namely, the delta5- and delta7-phytosterols, have become vailable only recently.

Disclaimer: These Articles and or information are not intended to mitigate the symptoms or cure the specific diagnosis of cancer or cancer related disease states.