Preparation of fucosterol from giant kelp

Abstract

Commercial extraction of alginic acid fromMacrocystis pyrifera leaves a residue that is a good source of fucosterol, 5,24(28)E‐stigmastadien‐3β‐ol. The isolation and purification of this sterol is described.

Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Growth by Saringosterol from Lessonia nigrescens

“…Fucosterol used for the synthesis of saringosterol was isolated from the filter mud of industrial alginate production from giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera). 12 Fucosterol obtained by this process (1.25 g, 3.0 mmol) and Rose Bengal (125 mg) were dissolved in 750 mL of MeOH. While bubbling oxygen through the solution in a jacketed beaker at 5 °C, it was irradiated with a 500 W halogen lamp.…”

“…Partial Synthesis of Saringosterol. Fucosterol used for the synthesis of saringosterol was isolated from the filter mud of industrial alginate production from giant kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera ) . Fucosterol obtained by this process (1.25 g, 3.0 mmol) and Rose Bengal (125 mg) were dissolved in 750 mL of MeOH.…”

“…We isolated fucosterol from the rotary filter mud, a waste product of this process. 12 Fucosterol itself showed no antitubercular activity. Oxidation with molecular oxygen in the presence of light and a sensitizer dye, such as Rose Bengal, and subsequent reduction of the intermediate hydroperoxide yielded a material that was found to be identical with the natural product by NMR, melting point, and optical rotation.…”

“…Fucosterol is readily available from giant kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera ), which is used for the industrial production of alginates. We isolated fucosterol from the rotary filter mud, a waste product of this process . Fucosterol itself showed no antitubercular activity.…”