retusasterol

Retusasterol is a naturally occurring phytosterol isolated from the inner bark of *Sclerocarya birrea* (Marula tree) and other plant species such as *Ficus retusa*. It has been investigated for its biological effects on human cancer cell lines, specifically demonstrating moderate cytotoxicity against prostate cancer cells (DU145, PC3, and LNCaP) with CC50 values ranging from 32 to 40 µg/mL. However, its pharmacological profile is complex; while it exhibits cytotoxic properties in some assays, other experimental evidence suggests it may paradoxically promote the proliferation of certain tumor cells. Retusasterol is primarily a subject of phytochemical and ethnopharmacological research and is not currently in clinical development as a pharmaceutical agent.