Cytotoxic sterols from the soft coral Nephthea erecta.

Two new cytotoxic sterols, 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-diene-3beta, 15beta,19-triol (1) and 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-diene-3beta, 19-diol-7-one (2), as well as four cytotoxic sterols, 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-diene-3beta,19-diol (3), 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-diene-3beta,19-diol-7beta-mono aetate (4), 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-diene-3beta,7beta,19-triol (5), and 24-methylcholesta-24(28)-ene-3beta,5alpha,6beta,19-tet raol (6), have been isolated from the soft coral Nephthea erecta. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by spectral analysis.