Beta-sitosterol

Beta-sitosterol (CAS 83-46-5) is a plant-derived sterol extracted primarily from vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.

Where is Beta-sitosterol used?

• Nutraceuticals and functional foods: fortified margarines and dietary supplements
• Cholesterol-lowering food products: competes with dietary cholesterol absorption in the gut
• Cosmetics: builds stable emulsions in creams and lotions for skin care
• Pharmaceuticals: raw material or reference standard for steroid-based active ingredients
• Food-grade fat systems: antioxidant co-stabilizer that extends shelf life in oils and fat blends
• In formulation it functions as an emulsifier, stabilizer, and active ingredient.
• Phytotherapeutic preparations containing it are used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
• Reference standard in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food industries for analysis, quality control and method validation to ensure product purity and regulatory compliance.

Good to know: High-purity grades are typically 95%+ or 99%+ for drug applications. Phytosterol blends with this compound as the primary component are also commercially available for food fortification.

Typical specification

• Solubility of 5 mg/mL in ethanol when heated in a water bath at 60 °C.
• Loss on drying is ≤3.5%.
• GC purity is ≥95% total sterols.
• GC content of beta-sitostanol is typically 10 to 14%.

Regulatory status

• Listed under Türkiye's Cosmetics Annex II as a prohibited substance.
• Not classified as dangerous goods.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Can be shipped at room temperature without refrigeration, as stability tests demonstrate.
• Should be stored at 2-8 °C.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.