title: Rat toxicity studies with beta-sitosterol.
abstract: Chronic administration of beta-sitosterol subcutaneously to rats for 60 days was well tolerated and there was no clear cut evidence of any gross or microscopic lesions either in the liver or kidney. Liver and kidney function tests were assessed by determining the blood/serum parameters like haemoglobin, blood glucose, serum protein, serum bilirubin, serum cholesterol, serum GPT and serum GOT. All the parameters were in the normal range except serum protein and serum cholesterol. Serum cholesterol was the only variable which depleted markedly in both sexes in a dose-dependent manner suggesting intrinsic hypocholesterolemic effect of the sterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, Madras, India.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vanithakumari
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007668:Kidney / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012855:Sitosterols; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin