STEROLS OF THE TRITON, CHARONIA-TRITONIS

1. 1. The present study deals with the sterol components of the triton, Charonia tritonis (phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda, order Mesogastropoda). 2. 2. The elucidation of sterol components was performed by gas-liquid chromatography (GC), argentation column chromatography and GC-mass spectrometry. 3. 3. The sterols of triton were mainly composed of cholesterol (25.9%), 24-methylcholesterol (16.7%) and 24-methylcholest-7-enol (15.5%). Also, this snail contained the significant amounts of Δ7-sterols such as cholest-7-enol (5.4%), 24-methylcholest-7,22-dienol (6.7%) and acansterol (4.9%) besides 24-methylcholest-7-enol (15.5%). 4. 4. Since the triton is a natural enemy of the starfish, Acanthaster planci, containing Δ7-sterols as principal sterols, the Δ7-sterols of this snail were assumed to be derived probably from the starfish. © 1979.