Ergosterol health benefit and studies research

Ergosterol is a biological precursor to Vitamin D2. Ergosterol, a sterol that is found in lower eukaryotic membranes, is converted into viosterol by ultraviolet light, and is then changed into ergocalciferol, which is a form of vitamin-D. Ergosterol is a component of fungal cell membranes, serving a similar function as cholesterol serves in animal cells.

Ergsoterol human study
As of August 2010, we are not aware of ergosterol supplements in human studies.

Anti fungal drug
Itraconazole is an oral anti-fungal drug that works by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis via cytochrome P-450 (CYP450)-dependent demethylation step.

Ulcerative colitis
The inhibitory effect of ergosterol, a bioactive constituent of a traditional Japanese herbal medicine saireito on the activity of mucosal-type mast cells.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2010 Jan; Kageyama-Yahara N, Wang P, Wang X, Yamamoto T, Kadowaki M. Division of Gastrointestinal Pathophysiology, Department of Bioscience, Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
Mucosal inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC) is presumed to be regulated primarily by type 2 T helper cell immune responses and mucosal mast cells in the colon are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of the mucosal inflammation. Saireito, a Japanese herbal medicine of standardized quality, originating from traditional Chinese medicine (Kampo medicine), is composed of two different Kampo medicines (shosaikoto and goreisan) and is often used for UC in Japan. In this study, we examined the direct effects of these Kampo medicines and their constituents on the antigen-induced degranulation of mucosal-type mast cells. Mucosal-type murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (mBMMCs) were pretreated by these drugs for 24 h, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor-triggered degranulation of mBMMCs was assessed by beta-hexosaminidase release. Goreisan showed inhibitory effects on degranulation of mBMMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Among the five constituent medicinal herbs of goreisan, Poria and Polyporus had the inhibitory effects on mBMMCs. Ergosterol, a principal and common component of Poria and Polyporus, also suppressed the degranulation of mBMMCs. Our results provide a molecular basis to explain a portion of the beneficial therapeutic properties of saireito on UC.

Ergosterol and wine fermentation
In wine fermentations, yeast is exposed to concentrated ethanol solutions. Ergosterol helps preserve the structural integrity of yeast membranes in stressful environmental conditions.

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