LIPID CONTENTS OF THE SPONGE HALICLONA SP

Several fatty acids, sterols, batyl alcohol and its analogs and an N-a cylated sphingosine (ceramide) have been isolated from the lipid fract ion of the extract of the sponge Haliclona sp. The major sterol is fou nd to be cholesterol (54%), followed by 24(28)-didehydroaplysterol (21 .2%), 24-ethylcholesterol (3.9%), 24-methylenecholesterol, DELTA22, 24 -methylcholesterol and DELTA22, 24-ethylcholesterol (latter three toge ther 14.7%). HPLC analysis of the glyceryl ethers of the long chain fa tty alcohols lead to the isolation of 16:0 (35.3%, chimyl alcohol), 17 :0 (2.45%), 18:0 (15.6%, batyl alcohol, 24:1 (17.25%) and 26:1 (3.54%) . The most polar fraction is found to be a mixture of N-acylated sphin gosines from which docosoyl ester amide of a dihydroxy sphingosine has been isolated in pure form.