Anticancer potential of β-sitosterol

Abstract

β-Sitosterol (beta-sitosterol) is a natural phytosterol of steroidal nature and similar to cholesterol. This review is devoted to claims of β-sitosterol effects on various types of cancer. Studies of its fate in the organism significantly improved with the development of modern instrumental analytical methods as they made it possible for scientist to identify β-sitosterol and other phytosterols in the presence of cholesterol to investigate qualitative and quantitative parameters of different systems: cells, tissues, animal and human organisms. Investigations of biological activities of β-sitosterol showed the anticarcinogenic and anticancer effects on cellular level. However, in vivo investigations did not lead to introduction of β-sitosterol among anticancer drugs. At this moment, benefits of β-sitosterol are widely accepted but more specific studies are necessary for clarification of β-sitosterol activities that would be of benefit to some cancer patients, especially suffering from breast and colon cancer.