Four new plant-origin sterols, (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,22-diene-3β,11α-diol; (24S)-ergosta-5-ene-3β,11α-diol; 5α,6α-epoxy-23-demethylgorgost-8-ene-3β,7α-diol; and 5α,6α-epoxy-23-demethylgorgost-8(14)-ene-3β,7α-diol, were obtained from an algal-bearing gorgonian coral, Pinnigorgia sp.
This study suggested that investigation of sterols together with examination of the potentially symbiotic associations between zooxanthellae and their host corals is worthwhile for future development.