A process for the preparation of phytosteryl ferulate

The present invention relates to a synthetic method for the preparation of phytosteryl ferulate using ferulic acid and phytosterols (isolated from soybean oil deodorizer distillate) comprising of (a) acetylation of ferulic acid to ferulic acid acetate; (b) esterification of ferulic acid acetate with phytosterols to obtain phytosteryl ferulate acetate; (c) deprotection of phytosteryl ferulate acetate to phytosteryl ferulate. The phytosteryl ferulate was evaluated for hypocholesteremic activity in hamsters in comparison with that of natural oryzanol isolated from rice bran oil soap stock. This study confirmed that the phytosteryl ferulate significantly lowers the elevated cholesterol levels and also interferes with the absorption of cholesterol and the effect is comparable with that of natural oryzanol and is useful as nutraceutical/food supplement.; Hence phytosteryl ferulate is a potential substitute for natural oryzanol for several applications.