Synthesis and assessment of the relative toxicity of the oxidised derivatives of campesterol and dihydrobrassicasterol in U937 and HepG2 cells

► Oxidised derivatives of dihydrobrassicasterol and campesterol were synthesised. ► The phytosterol oxidation products were cytotoxic in U937 and HepG2 cells. ► Certain oxides of dihydrobrassicasterol and campesterol induced apoptosis in U937 cells.