Biological Activity and Application of Food-derived Sterol Components

Food-derived sterols are a class of steroids that can be isolated from edible crops and macrofungus. In recent years,a large number of studies on phytosterols and mycosterols had shown that these compounds could play an important role in regulating physiological functions,such as lowering cholesterol. Because of their special biological activities and physicochemical properties,the compounds have been widely applied in industrial production. The paper reviewed recent researches on practical application and physiological activities of food-derived sterols in vitro and in vivo,aimed to provide a certain theoretical basis and reference for the better use of such compounds.