{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T04:26:52Z","timestamp":1787286412914,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787184000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787184000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["J Sci Food Agric"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>BACKGROUND<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Phytosterols, particularly\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2010sitosterol, exhibit well\u2010recognized cholesterol\u2010lowering activity; however, their practical application is constrained by rigid molecular structures and limited structural tunability. Rational molecular modification combined with the introduction of flexible linkers may provide an effective approach to improve their physicochemical and functional properties.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>RESULTS<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      In this study, a novel sitosteryl ethylene glycol succinate containing a flexible spacer was successfully synthesized via a chemo\u2010enzymatic approach. Under the selected enzymatic conditions (55\u2009\u00b0C, 84\u2009h and a substrate molar ratio of 1:2), the esterification rate reached 91.54\u2009\u00b1\u20091.80%. The chemical structure of the synthesized ester was confirmed using multiple analytical techniques. Analysis of physicochemical properties suggested that the introduction of the flexible ethylene glycol segment altered the crystalline packing and solid\u2010state organization of\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2010sitosterol.\n                      <jats:italic>In vitro<\/jats:italic>\n                      micellar assays indicated that the derivative enhanced cholesterol\u2010lowering potential relative to\n                      <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2010sitosterol, as evidenced by reduced cholesterol incorporation into mixed micelles.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>CONCLUSION<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These results suggest that the incorporation of polar and flexible spacer segments may modulate the amphiphilic balance and structural characteristics of phytosterols, thereby improving their capacity to inhibit cholesterol solubilization. This study provides a potential strategy for the rational design of phytosterol derivatives with improved functional performance. \u00a9 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1002\/jsfa.71008","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T04:20:22Z","timestamp":1787286022000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Chemo\u2010enzymatic synthesis of a flexible spacer\u2010modified\n                    <i>\u03b2<\/i>\n                    \u2010sitosterol derivative with preserved cholesterol\u2010lowering activity"],"prefix":"10.1002","author":[{"given":"Yaqin","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Food Science and Technology Henan Agricultural University  Zhengzhou 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