Aspects of β-sitosterol's Pharmacology, Nutrition and Analysis

Phytosterols are bioactive substances found naturally in the cell membranes of plants and have an arrangement of molecules similar to that of fat, which is produced by mammalian cells. They are widely distributed as dietary sources of lipids in plants, such as nuts, seeds, olive oil, and legumes. This review provides a summary of the efficacy of BS in treating lifestyle problems, as well as an appraisal of previous research. Data was collected from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google scholar (1968 -2024) using standard keywords “β-sitosterol,” “Classification,” “Biosynthesis,” “Pharmacokinetics,” “Herbal nutraceutical,” “Analytical,” “Structure,” “Pharmacological effect.” A total of 222 studies were included in this review. Numerous in vitro and in vivo investigations have shown that BSs exhibit several biological properties such as calming and anxiolytic effects; narcotic and immune-stimulating effects; antibacterial, antineoplastic, inflammation-causing, lipid-lowering, and hepatoprotective effects; and antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and wound-healing effects in contrast to respiratory and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease illnesses. β-sitosterol is a promising natural substance for the management of cholesterol and inflammation. However, further studies are needed to understand its pharmacological consequences and determine its best use in clinical applications. β-Sitosterol, also known as "plant sterol ester," is often present in plants and has several applications, notably in medicine and the food industry. Experimental research on β-sitosterol provides unequivocal evidence that phytosterol can be supplemented with other methods to combat serious illnesses. Such a high potential identifies this substance as a noteworthy medication for the future based on its composition. Although β-sitosterol has anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties and is useful in human clinical trials for enlarged prostates, its mechanism of action remains unclear.