Bs8.5

Beta-Sitosterol Research

40 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 8.5/10

Efficacy and mechanism of Qianjinweijing Decoction for asthma: Integrating systematic review with meta-analysis and network pharmacology

Zhang L et al. • Medicine (2025)

QJWJ is effective in the treatment of asthma, and the therapeutic mechanism may be related to its regulation of inflammation, immunity, and apoptosis.

QJWJ is effective in the treatment of asthma, and the therapeutic mechanism may be related to its regulation of inflammation, immunity, and apoptosis.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Meta-Analysisn=1,200

DOI

Genome-wide association study and meta-analysis of phytosterols identifies a novel locus for serum levels of campesterol

Alenbawi J et al. • Human genomics (2024)

This meta-analysis examined the effects of Beta-Sitosterol.

The meta-analysis replicated most of the reported variants, and our study provided significant support for the association of variants in SCARB1 and ABO with sitosterolemia.
Evaluation of a polygenic risk score devised from European GWAS data showed moderate performance when applied to QBB (adjusted-R2 = 0.082).
These findings provide new insights into the genetic architecture of phytosterol metabolism while showing the importance including under-represented populations in future GWAS studies.

Meta-Analysisn=9,758

DOI

Treatment of gouty arthritis with traditional Chinese medicine decoction: Meta-analysis, network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking

Qu P et al. • Medicine (2024)

TCMD could be a satisfactory complementary and alternative therapy for GA.

TCMD could be a satisfactory complementary and alternative therapy for GA.
However, it should be verified by further studies.
Future research could be conducted from the following active ingredients, targets, and signal pathways, such as wogonin, sitosterol, and sitosterol; AKT1, TNF, IL6, and TP53; and IL-17, HIF-1, and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Meta-Analysisn=7,151

DOI

Clinical efficacy evaluation and potential mechanism prediction on Guizhi-Shaoyao-Zhimu decoction in the treatment of gouty arthritis based on meta-analysis, network pharmacology analysis, and molecular docking

Qu P et al. • Medicine (2023)

GSZD could be a satisfactory complementary and alternative therapy for treating gouty arthritis.

GSZD could be a satisfactory complementary and alternative therapy for treating gouty arthritis.
However, it should be verified by further studies.
Future research on gouty arthritis could be conducted from the active components including beta-sitosterol and sitosterol, the targets including TNF-1, IL1B, and ESR1, and the signaling pathways including IL-17 and HIF-1.

Meta-Analysisn=1,633

DOI

Phytosterols, Phytostanols, and Lipoprotein Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis of 124 Randomized Controlled Trials

Moreau RA et al. • Advances in Nutrition (2022)

Phytosterols consistently lower LDL-C by approximately 8-10% across populations.

Consistent LDL-C lowering across 124 RCTs
Effects comparable between sterols and stanols
Benefits seen across diverse populations and dietary patterns

Meta-Analysisn=8,420

DOI

Phytosterols and Blood Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Ras RT et al. • British Journal of Nutrition (2020)

Plant sterols including beta-sitosterol reduced LDL cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner.

Average LDL cholesterol reduction of 6-12% at standard doses (1.5-3g/day)
Dose-response relationship confirmed with optimal intake around 2g/day
No significant effects on HDL cholesterol or triglycerides

Meta-Analysisn=3,232

DOI

Substance basis and pharmacological mechanism of heat-clearing herbs in the treatment of ischaemic encephalopathy: a systematic review and network pharmacology

Zhao A et al. • Annals of medicine (2024)

Heat-clearing herbs are useful and promising for the protection against and prevention of ischemic encephalopathy.

Heat-clearing herbs are useful and promising for the protection against and prevention of ischemic encephalopathy.
It can be seen that the components of heat-clearing Chinese medicines can exert cerebroprotective effects through multiple pathways, which provides us with a reference for further development and study of heat-clearing Chinese medicines in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Reviewn=269

DOI

Beta-sitosterol for BPH: Cochrane Review

Wilt TJ et al. • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2000)

Beta-sitosterol improves urinary symptoms and flow measures in men with BPH.

Significant symptom improvement
Improved urinary flow
Well-tolerated

Systematic Reviewn=519

DOI

Exploring the therapeutic efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Guizhi Fuling Pill on ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis and network pharmacology analysis

Wang J et al. • Metabolic brain disease (2024)

The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

The intervention group significantly increased the total effective rate and decreased the NIHSS score.
The core pathways were lipid and atherosclerosis, cAMP, calcium, IL-17, and MAPK signaling pathways.
Key active compounds showed good affinity with the core targets.

Meta-Analysis

DOI

Exploring the mechanism of Danggui Sini Decoction in the treatment of myocardial infarction: A systematic review, network pharmacology, and molecular docking

Li Z et al. • Medicine (2024)

MI-related genes were examined using the Genecards database, and the active ingredients of DSD were screened based on System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform of Traditional Chinese Medic...

MI-related genes were examined using the Genecards database, and the active ingredients of DSD were screened based on System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform of Traditional Chinese Medicine by oral bioavailability ≥ 30% and drug-likeness ≥ 0.18.
The molecular docking results indicate that DSD drugs may interact with AKT1, EGFR, TP53, and TNF through formononetin, isorhamnetin, β-Sitosterol, and kaempferol, potentially contributing to the treatment of MI.
By utilizing a multi-component, multi-pathway, and multi-target mode of action, DSD may have the potential to prevent MI.

Systematic Review

DOI

Efficacy and mechanism of nourishing yin and purging fire therapy for central precocious puberty based on meta-analysis and network pharmacology

Ma Y et al. • Medicine (2023)

This article revealed that NYPF therapy is effective and safe against CPP.

This article revealed that NYPF therapy is effective and safe against CPP.
The mechanism of the core herb pair of NYPF therapy for CPP through muti-components, muti-targets and muti-pathways.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Meta-Analysisn=23

DOI

Clinical practice guideline on treating influenza in adult patients with Chinese patent medicines

Wu L et al. • Pharmacological research (2020)

The strength of all recommendations was weak.

The strength of all recommendations was weak.
Traditional Chinese medicine has great potential to help in the fight against influenza worldwide, but more high-quality studies are still needed to strengthen the evidence.

Meta-Analysis

DOI

Benign prostatic hyperplasia and male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)

McNicholas T et al. • BMJ clinical evidence (2011)

We performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions.

Systematic review examining Beta-Sitosterol efficacy
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

DOI

A Review of Cytotoxic Plants of the Indian Subcontinent and a Broad-Spectrum Analysis of Their Bioactive Compounds

Mazumder K et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2020)

Therefore, further investigations are warranted on these subcontinent medicinal plants as an important source of novel cytotoxic agents.

Moreover, over 60% of the anti-cancer drugs are molecules derived from plants or their synthetic derivatives.
The review covers 99 plants of 57 families as well as over 110 isolated bioactive cytotoxic compounds, amongst which at least 20 are new compounds.
Among the reported phytoconstituents, artemisinin, lupeol, curcumin, and quercetin are under clinical trials, while brazilin, catechin, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol, and myricetin are under pharmacokinetic development.

Meta-Analysis

DOI

Isolated Compounds from Natural Products with Potential Antidiabetic Activity - A Systematic Review

Munhoz ACM et al. • Current diabetes reviews (2018)

This review contributes to the field of ethnopharmacology and should impact the design of new strategies in the search of novel compounds for the treatment of diabetic conditions.

This review contributes to the field of ethnopharmacology and should impact the design of new strategies in the search of novel compounds for the treatment of diabetic conditions.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

DOI

An Evidence-Based Systematic Review of Beta-Sitosterol, Sitosterol (22,23- dihydrostigmasterol, 24-ethylcholesterol) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration

Ulbricht CE • Journal of dietary supplements (2016)

This article includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.

An evidence-based systematic review of beta-sitosterol, sitosterol (22,23-dihydrostigmasterol, 24-ethylcholesterol) by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration consolidates the safety and efficacy data available in the scientific literature using a validated, reproducible grading rationale.
This article includes written and statistical analysis of clinical trials, plus a compilation of expert opinion, folkloric precedent, history, pharmacology, kinetics/dynamics, interactions, adverse effects, toxicology, and dosing.
Further research warranted to confirm findings

Systematic Review

DOI

Efficacy and mechanisms of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction for gastroesophageal reflux disease: A study integrating meta-analysis, network pharmacology and molecular docking

Tian M et al. • Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (2026)

XSLJZD may improve RE symptoms as an adjunctive therapy, but the evidence is low in certainty.

Eight RCTs (n = 646) showed that XSLJZD significantly improved clinical outcomes compared with controls, demonstrating superior overall efficacy and reduced recurrence.
XSLJZD may improve RE symptoms as an adjunctive therapy, but the evidence is low in certainty.
The proposed anti-inflammatory and apoptotic mechanisms are computationally derived.

Meta-Analysisn=646AI-discovered

DOI

Efficacy and Safety of Pitavastatin/Ezetimibe Fixed-Dose Combination vs. Pitavastatin: Phase III, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Tsujita K et al. • Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis (2023)

The pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination showed an excellent LDL-C-reducing effect by the complementary pharmacological action of each component, and its safety profile was similar to that of pitavastatin monotherapy (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04289649).

The percentage changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), the primary endpoint, were -39.5% for 2 mg pitavastatin, -45.2% for 4 mg pitavastatin, -51.4% for K-924 LD, and -57.8% for K-924 HD.
Compared with pitavastatin monotherapy, the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination significantly reduced LDL-C, total cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Meanwhile, the cholesterol synthesis marker, lathosterol, was significantly decreased with pitavastatin monotherapy and the pitavastatin/ezetimibe fixed-dose combination, although the decrease was attenuated in the latter.

RCTn=293

DOI

Variation of LDL cholesterol in response to the replacement of saturated with unsaturated fatty acids: a nonrandomized, sequential dietary intervention; the Reading, Imperial, Surrey, Saturated fat Cholesterol Intervention ("RISSCI"-1) study

Koutsos A et al. • The American journal of clinical nutrition (2024)

These findings support the efficacy of United Kingdom SFA dietary guidelines for the overall lowering of serum LDL cholesterol but showed marked variation in LDL cholesterol response.

There was also an increase in plasma biomarkers of cholesterol intestinal absorption (β-sitosterol, campesterol, cholestanol), and synthesis (desmosterol) (P < 0.0001) and fold change in PBMC LDL-receptor mRNA expression relative to the higher-SFA/lower-UFA diet (P = 0.035).
These findings support the efficacy of United Kingdom SFA dietary guidelines for the overall lowering of serum LDL cholesterol but showed marked variation in LDL cholesterol response.
Further identification of the determinants of this variation will facilitate targeting and increasing the efficacy of these guidelines.

RCTn=109

DOI

Effects of Pemafibrate on LDL-C and Related Lipid Markers in Patients with MASLD: A Sub-Analysis of the PEMA-FL Study

Tanigawa R et al. • Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis (2025)

Pemafibrate reduced LDL-C, ApoB, and non-HDL-C levels in patients with MASLD, and the effect was greater in those with higher baseline LDL-C levels.

Pemafibrate significantly decreased LDL-C levels approximately 25% (p＜0.001 at all timepoints) from baseline in the highest tertile of baseline LDL-C levels (≥ 137.5 mg/dL), with similar trends for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels.
The percentage change in LDL-C positively correlated with that in ApoB, non-HDL-C, Lp(a), lathosterol, β-sitosterol, and campesterol but not HDL-C and ANGPTL3.
Pemafibrate reduced LDL-C, ApoB, and non-HDL-C levels in patients with MASLD, and the effect was greater in those with higher baseline LDL-C levels.

RCTn=118

DOI

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