Beta-Sitosterol (purity>80%) includes β-sitosterol (≥80%), stigmasterol, campesterol and brassicasterol mainly. Beta-Sitosterol is a plant sterol. Beta-Sitosterol (purity>98%) interfere with multiple cell signaling pathways, including cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation, survival, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammation[1].

Bioactivity-guided isolation afforded three compounds from the hexane fraction of E. indica, namely, Beta-Sitosterol (β-sitosterol), Stigmasterol, and Lutein. Both compounds are found to possess very low PPL inhibition activity, that is, 2.99±0.80% (Beta-Sitosterol) of inhibition at 100 μg/mL (242 μM) and 2.68±0.38% (Stigmasterol) of inhibition at 100 μg/mL (243 μM), respectively. Weak PPL inhibition activity of Beta-Sitosterol and Stigmasterol isolated from Alpinia zerumbet with IC50 value of 99.99±1.86 μg/mL and 125.05±4.76 μg/mL, respectively, in comparison with the inhibition shown by Curcumin (IC50=4.92±0.21 μg/mL) and Quercetin (IC50=18.60±0.86 μg/mL) which are used as positive controls in their study. Beta-Sitosterol and Stigmasterol are recorded with weak PPL inhibitory activity of only 3.0±0.8% and 2.7±0.4% at 100 μg/mL, respectively, (i.e., 242 μM and 243 μM) in contrast (34.5±5.4% at 100 μg/mL), which are comparatively lower than that recorded in literature (i.e., 50% PPL inhibition at 100 μg/mL)[1]. Sitosterol is an important compound extracted from the leaves of Aloe vera. It inhibits the growth of promastigotes of L. donovani, a causative agent for life threatening visceral leishmaniasis disease[2].

Beta-Sitosterol (β-sitosterol) treatment significantly reduced the immobility time at three doses (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) in the Forced Swim Test (FST) and Tail Suspension Test (TST), indicating an antidepressant effect. This effect is similar to the positive control fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) at a dose of 30 mg/kg, where the strongest effect is observed compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The same effects are observed for three doses of Beta-Sitosterol in the TST. The % DID values are as follows: FST: 39.27% (10 mg/kg), 51.23% (20 mg/kg), and 57.48% (30 mg/kg); TST: 31.63% (10 mg/kg), 43.95% (20 mg/kg), and 53.38% (30 mg/kg). These results indicate that Beta-Sitosterol has a significant antidepressant activity in mice during the FST and TST. Furthermore, Beta-Sitosterol exhibits the antidepressant effect in a dose-dependent manner[3].