Abstract
The sterol compositions of six Cucurbitaceae seeds, Cucurbita pepo, C. lagenaria, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis sativus, C. melo and Luffa aegyptiaca, were examined by TLC, GLC, HPLC and m some cases by mass spectrometry and 1HNMR spectroscopy. Thirteen components were identified. They were codisterol, 25(27)-dehydroporiferasterol, clerosterol, isofucosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, 22-dihydrobrassicasterol, sitosterol, 25(27)-dehydrofungisterol, 25(27)-dehydrochondrillasterol, 24β-ethyl-25(27)-dehydrolathosterol, avenasterol, spinasterol, 24ξ-methyllathosterol and 22-dihydrospinasterol. 24-Methylenecholesterol may also have been present. The Δ 5-sterols were observed in all species. The pattern of sterols suggests the existence of four biosynthetic pathways operating from a 24(25)-dehydroprecursor. This work represents only the second time either codisterol or 25(27)-dehydrofungisterol has been isolated from a higher plant.
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