Abstract:Sterol ferulate is a kind of plant sterol derivatives, including cycloartenyl ferulate, β- sitosteryl ferulate, stigmasteryl ferulate, campesteryl ferulate and dihydrogen sitosteryl ferulate etc., which is of phytocholesterol derivatives by dehydration reaction ofby ferulic acid and the hydroxyl group at C3 site of sterol. Sterol ferulate is the main existence of natural sterol mofetil, which widely exists in rice bran, corn, soybean, wheat and other grains. Some researchers have confirmed that it owns better biological activities than phytosterol and ferulic acid due to its structure of both phytosterol and ferulic acid. The review was briefly introduced its distribution, structure, physical and chemical properties, and biological activities in terms of cholesterol-lowering, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and immuno-enhancement. Furthermore, the preparation methods of extracting from plants, chemical and biological synthesis were summerized, and the advantages and disadvantages about the detecting techniques by HPLC, GC and TLC were discussed. The advances and trends of sterol ferulate on preparation methods, detecting techniques, biological activities and mechanisms of action were proposed.
