Phytosterols in Plant-Derived Foods: Recent Updates in Extraction and Analysis Methods.

Abstract

The physiological and officinal functions of phytosterols are of great significance, and recent dietary guidelines have underscored the significance of incorporating them into a balanced diet. Furthermore, it exhibits inhibitory effects on tumor growth, stimulates cellular immunity, possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the role of phytosterols in public health, it is crucial to establish simple, rapid, eco-conscious, efficient, and highly sensitive techniques for their extraction and determination across various matrices. This review presents a thorough overview of various techniques used for extracting and analyzing phytosterols in diverse plant-derived foods, encompassing a range of advanced technologies like solid-phase extraction, microextraction, supercritical fluid extraction, QuEChERS, alongside traditional approaches. The detection techniques include liquid chromatography-based methods, gas chromatography-based methods, supercritical fluid chromatography, and other methodologies. Additionally, we conduct a thorough examination and comparison of various techniques while proposing future prospects.