Sterols and acylglycerols in the brown algae Zanardinia prototypus Nardo and Striaria attenuata (Grev.) Grev. from the Black Sea

The sterol composition of these algae appeared to be very complex. While in Zanardinia prototypus the expected fucosterol predominated, Striaria atten uata contained significant amounts of lower sterol homologues (C-27- and C- 28-sterols). Comparisons with the sterol composition of other algae were ma de and the data obtained was in agreement with some classifications propose d earlier. Significant differences have also been found in the lipid compos ition of these algae. Zanardinia prototypus contained mainly phospholipids, while the main lipid class in Striaria attenuata appeared to be monogalact osyl diacylglycerols. The concentrations of some of the individual fatty ac ids in the two algae also showed significant differences.