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Phytosteroids, also known as plant steroids, are naturally occurring steroids that are found in plants. [1] Examples include digoxin , digitoxin , diosgenin , and guggulsterone , as well as phytosterols like β-sitosterol and other phytoestrogens like isoflavones .
A steroid is an organic compound with four fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and as signaling molecules.
For plant stanol esters: (i) Foods containing at least 1.7 g per serving of plant stanol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a total daily intake of at least 3.4 g, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of the food] supplies ___grams of plant stanol esters. [17]
In at least one plant, Juglans regia, progesterone has been detected. [145] In addition, progesterone-like steroids are found in Dioscorea mexicana. Dioscorea mexicana is a plant that is part of the yam family native to Mexico. [146] It contains a steroid called diosgenin that is taken from the plant and is converted into progesterone. [147]
Some plant and animal species use cardenolides as defense mechanisms, notably the milkweed butterflies. [3] Species such as the monarch , queen , and plain tiger ingest the cardenolides contained in the milkweeds ( Asclepias ) that they mostly feed on and sequester as larvae for defense as adults.
In plants, carotenoids can occur in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Carotenoids have two important functions in plants. First, they can contribute to photosynthesis. They do this by transferring some of the light energy they absorb to chlorophylls, which then uses this energy for photosynthesis. Second, they can protect plants which ...
A germination rate experiment. Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. [1]Plant physiologists study fundamental processes of plants, such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition, plant hormone functions, tropisms, nastic movements, photoperiodism, photomorphogenesis, circadian rhythms, environmental stress physiology, seed ...
Plant hormones (or phytohormones) are signal molecules, produced within plants, that occur in extremely low concentrations. Plant hormones control all aspects of plant growth and development, including embryogenesis, [1] the regulation of organ size, pathogen defense, [2] [3] stress tolerance [4] [5] and reproductive development. [6]