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Glite Dictionary
stigmasterol

stigmasterol

1 9.9
A plant chemical in cells used in research and some health supplements
  • noun
  • /ˌstɪɡməˈstɛrɒl/
  • Specialized
: estigmasterol
  • Research has shown that stigmasterol can improve cholesterol levels when included in dietary supplements.

Examples

  • Scientists discovered that stigmasterol, found in certain plants, plays a crucial role in the production of steroid hormones.

  • Coprostanol, cholesterol, dihydrocholesterol (cholestanol), stigmasterol, sitosterol, and stigmastanol were identified and quantified by the GC/MS method.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Many foods, such as soybeans and nuts, are rich in stigmasterol, which is beneficial for heart health.

Surface Forms

stigmasterol singular
stigmasterols plural

Etymology

Stigmasterol breaks into stigm- and -sterol, and the -sterol part is the same as in cholesterol and steroid, so it tells you this is a cholesterol-like molecule. A helpful way to remember stigm- is to think of 'stigma', a plant part or 'mark', which points to the fact that stigmasterol comes from plants and is a plant sterol found in cell membranes and used in supplements and research.