Free Sterols of the Red Alga Chondria armata (Kütz.) Okamura

The free sterols of the red alga, Chondria armata have been identified by means of NMR, EIMS and GCMS analyses. The mixture contained besides cholesterol, C₂₈ and C₂₉ saturated as well as unsaturated components. The major component present was 24?-ethyl cholesterol followed by cholesterol and 24-methylene cholesterol. Desmosterol was absent as were side chain oxygenated sterols.