Über die Veränderung der Sterine in Fetten und Ölen bei der industriellen Bearbeitung derselben I

Novel Synthesis of Phytosterol Ferulate Using Acidic Ionic Liquids as a Catalyst and Its Hypolipidemic Activity

Phytosterol ferulate (PF) is quantitively low in rice, corn, wheat, oats, barley, and millet, but it is potentially effective in reducing plasma lipids. In this study, PF was synthesized for the first time using acidic ionic liquids as a catalyst. The product was purified, characterized using Fourier transform infrared, mass spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultimately confirmed as the desired PF compound. The conversion of phytosterol surpassed an impressive 99% within just 2 h, with a selectivity for PF exceeding 83%. Plasma lipid-lowering activity of PF was further investigated by using C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet as a model. Supplementation of 0.5% PF into diet resulted in significant reductions in plasma total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 13.7, 16.9, and 46.3%, respectively. This was accompanied by 55.8 and 36.3% reductions in hepatic cholesterol and total lipids, respectively, and a 22.9% increase in fecal cholesterol excretion. Interestingly, PF demonstrated a higher lipid-lowering activity than that of its substrates, a physical mixture of phytosterols and ferulic acid. In conclusion, an efficient synthesis of PF was achieved for the first time, and PF had the great potential to be developed as a lipid-lowering dietary supplement.

Ultrasound-promoted preparation of disteryl ethers catalyzed by montmorillonite K 10

In the presence of montmorillonite K 10, 5(6)-unsaturated sterols (1) were heated under ultrasound at 45 degrees C in dichloromethane for 2-5.5 h to provide 3 beta,3'beta-5(6)/5'(6')-unsaturated disteryl ethers (2) in 35-79% yield. Meanwhile, 3 alpha,3'alpha-diandrost-5-en-17-one-3-yl ether (3a) and 3 alpha,3'alpha-dipregn-5-en-20-one-3-yl ether (3b) were also obtained as by-products from 3 beta-hydroxyl-androst-5-en-17-one (1a) and 3 beta-hydroxyl-pregnan-5-en-20-one (1b) respectively.

Biosynthesis and biotransformation of ether lipids

Some naturally occurring as well as synthetic ether lipids are biologically active. In certain cases, the effects of these substances are enhanced, in others, they are inhibited by compounds that were isolated from natural sources or prepared by chemical synthesis. The biotransformation of natural or "unnatural" ether lipids in microorganisms, plant or animal tissue also can lead to substances that elicit biological effects. The production of such compounds through various biotechnological techniques is a field wide open for future exploration. In addition to animal cell cultures, plant cell cultures may become useful tools in biomedical studies concerned with ether lipids.