Three new sterols, (24R)-5,28-stigmastadiene-3β,24-diol-7-one (1), (24S)-5,28-stigmastadiene-3β,24-diol-7-one (2), and 24R and 24S-vinylcholesta-3β,5α,6β,24-tetraol (3), together with three known sterols (4-6) were isolated from the green alga Ulva australis. The structures of the new compounds (1-3) were elucidated through 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. Compounds 4-6 were identified as isofucoterol (4), 24R,28S and 24S,28R-epoxy-24-ethylcholesterol (5), and (24S)-stigmastadiene-3β,24-diol (6) on the basis of spectroscopic data analyses and comparison with those reported in the literature. Compounds 4-6 were isolated from U. australis for the first time. These compounds, together with the previously isolated secondary metabolites of this alga, were investigated for their inhibitory effects on human recombinant aldose reductase in vitro. Of the compounds, 24R,28S and 24S,28R-epoxy-24-ethylcholesterol (5), 1-O-palmitoyl-3-O-(6'-sulfo-α-d-quinovopyranosyl) glycerol, (2S)-1-O-palmitoyl-3-O-[α-d-galactopyranosyl(1→2)β-d-galactopyranosyl] glycerol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 8-hydroxy-(6E)-octenoic acid weakly inhibited the enzyme, while the three new sterols, 1-3, were almost inactive.
Keywords: 24-vinylcholesta-3β,5α,6β,24-tetraol; 5,28-stigmastadiene-3β,24-diol-7-one epimers; Chlorophyta; Ulva australis.