Ergosterol is a stasto discovered in 1889 by a rye fungus, it is a main component of the plasma membrane of fungi

It is the main sterol found in champignon mushrooms or Agaricus bisporus. It occurs naturally in vegetable oils, nuts, cereals and berries. The most common sterols are beta-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol (1).

It is a biological precursor of vitamin D that can be converted into vitamin D2 by UVB rays (2). D2 can increase insulin sensitivity, lower blood glucose and reduce cardiovascular complications of diabetes (3).

It has anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic properties, but is scarcely soluble. It is an important phytosterol (4).

Molecular Formula:C₂₈H₄₄O

Molecular Weight:396.659 g/mol

CAS:57-87-4

EC Number:200-352-7

UNIII:Z30RAY509F

PubChem Substance ID:24894628

MDL number:MFCD00003623

Beilstein Registry Number:2338604

Synonyms:

• Provitamin D2
• Ergosterin
• 5,7,22-Ergostatrien-3beta-ol
• 14-((2E)(1R,4R)-1,4,5-trimethylhex-2-enyl)(1S,5S,2R,11R,14R,15R)-2,15-dimethyl tetracyclo[8.7.0.0<2,7>.0<11,15>]heptadeca-7,9-dien-5-ol
• 3beta-Hydroxy-5,7,22-ergostatriene
• (3S,9S,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(E,2R,5R)-5,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol
• 24-Methylcholesta-5,7,22-trien-3beta-ol
• 24alpha-Methyl-22E-dehydrocholesterol

References______________________________________

(1) Habib NS, Ismail KA, El-Tombary AA, Abd El-Aziem T. Antilipidemic agents, Part IV: Synthesis and antilipidemic testing of some heterocyclic derivatives of hexadecyl and cyclohexyl hemisuccinate esters. Pharmazie. 2000

(2) Ko JA, Lee BH, Lee JS, Park HJ.. Effect of UV-B exposure on the concentration of vitamin D2 in sliced shiitake mushroom (Lentinus edodes) and white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus). J Agric Food Chem (2008)

(3) Al-Shoumer K. A. S., Al-Essa T. M. Is there a relationship between vitamin D with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus? World Journal of Diabetes. 2015

(4) Yi C, Zhong H, Tong S, Cao X, Liu H, Fu M, et al. Enhanced oral bioavailability of a sterol-loaded microemulsion formulation of Flammulina velutipes, a potential antitumor drug. Int J Nanomed 2012