Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
Hong-Chieh Tsai
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Yin-Di Su
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
Tsong-Long Hwang
Graduate Institute of Natural Products, College of Medicine and Chinese Herbal Medicine Research Team, Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
Ping-Jyun Sung
Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
Two new sterols, columnaristerols B (1) and C (2), along with two known analogues, 5,6-epoxylitosterol (3) and litosterol (4), were obtained from the octocoral Nephthea columnaris. The structures of new sterols 1 and 2 were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods and comparing the spectroscopic data with those of known related metabolites. Sterol 3 was found to suppress superoxide anion production and elastase secretion by human neutrophils.
