Bioactivity of Phytosterols and Their Production in Plant in Vitro Cultures.
Phytosterols are a kind of plant metabolite belonging to the triterpene family. These compounds are essential biomolecules for human health, and so they must be taken from foods. β-Sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol are the main phytosterols found in plants. Phytosterols have beneficial effects on human health since they are able to reduce plasma cholesterol levels and have antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. However, there are many difficulties in obtaining them, since the levels of these compounds produced from plant raw materials are low and their chemical synthesis is not economically profitable for commercial exploitation. A biotechnological alternative for their production is the use of plant cell and hairy root cultures. This review is focused on the biosynthesis of phytosterols and their function in both plants and humans as well as the different biotechnological strategies to increase phytosterol biosynthesis. Special attention is given to describing new methodologies based on the use of recombinant DNA technology to increase the levels of phytosterols.
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia , Campus de Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
Begoña
B
Miras-Moreno
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia , Campus de Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
Ana Belén
AB
Sabater-Jara
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia , Campus de Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
M A
MA
Pedreño
Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia , Campus de Espinardo, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
Lorena
L
Almagro
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D001682:Biological Availability; D001709:Biotechnology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D036262:Empirical Research; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D012855:Sitosterols / Q000737:chemistry; D013265:Stigmasterol / Q000737:chemistry
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D012855:Sitosterols; C021273:campesterol; C025473:gamma-sitosterol; D002784:Cholesterol; D013265:Stigmasterol
biosynthethic pathway; in vitro cultures; phytosterols