Phytosterols which include plant sterols and stanols, are steroid compounds. These are similar to cholesterol which occurs in plants except variation only in carbon side chains and/or presence or absence of a double bond. Stanols are saturated sterols, whose sterol ring structure has no double bonds. Over 200 sterols and related compounds have been identified till date. Free phytosterols extracted from oils are insoluble in water, comparatively insoluble in oil, and soluble in alcohols.
In 1953 it was first demonstrated in humans that phytosterols have got the ability to reduce cholesterol levels. They were later on marketed as a pharmaceutical under the name Cytellin as a treatment for elevated cholesterol from 1954-1982. Journal of Steroids & Hormonal Science publish the articles in the topics of topical Phytosterols. The journal is having highly qualified professors and associate professors in hormones or steroid hormones as editoial board members and review board members. The papers published by the journal are online and these papers are peer reviewed by the expert editorial board and review board. Hence, the quality of the papers being published is being maintained.
Last date updated on April, 2024