Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025

Author Spotlight: Separation of Coral Host Tissues and Algal Symbionts and Analyzing Their Metabolites
Published on: October 13, 2023
Polyhydroxylated steroids from the Vietnamese soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi
Ninh Thi Ngoc1, Tran Thi Hong Hanh1, Tran Hong Quang1
1Institute of Marine Biochemistry (IMBC), Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Caugiay, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Abstract:
Fourteen polyhydroxylated steroids including six new compounds, ehrensteroids A - F (1-6), were isolated from the Vietnamese soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi after applying various chromatographic separations. The structure elucidation was done by detailed analysis of 1D, 2D NMR and HR QTOF mass spectra. In addition, significant cytotoxicity (IC50 values ranging from 8.45 ± 0.56 to 38.27 ± 2.39 μM) against all five tested cancer cell lines as LU-1 (lung cancer), HepG2 (hepatoma cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), HL-60 (acute leukemia), and SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma) was observed for compounds 1, 2, 6-10, and 12-14, whereas this activity on LU-1 (IC50 = 21.91 ± 2.72 μM) and HepG2 (IC50 = 20.32 ± 0.03 μM) cell lines was also observed for 4.
Related Concept Videos
Red Algae
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Other Algae
What are Lipids?
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
Diversity of Protists III

