A series of new 5,6-epoxysterols from a Chinese sponge Ircinia aruensis.

Chromatographic separation of the ethanolic extract of the marine sponge, Ircinia aruensis, resulted in the isolation and characterization of six new sterols. 5 alpha,6 alpha-Epoxy-26,27-dinorergosta-7,22-en-3 beta-ol (1), 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxycholesta-7,22-en-3 beta-ol (2), 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxyergosta-7,24(28)-en-3 beta-ol (3), 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxyergosta-7-en-3 beta-ol (4), 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxystigmasta-7,22-en-3 beta-ol (5), 5 alpha,6 alpha-epoxystigmasta-7-en-3 beta-ol (6). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data (IR, MS, 1H and 13C NMR, HMQC, and HMBC) analyses. The cytotoxic of 1-3 toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines is also reported.