Separation of sterols and triterpene alcohols from unsaponifiable fractions of three plant seed oils

Preparative HPLC was used to separate sterols and triterpene alcohols from the unsaponifiable matters in plant oils from Camellia weiningensis L., Bra ssica juncea L. and Microula sikkimensis. The isolated sterols and triterpe ne alcohols were acetylated and further purified by AgNO3 impregnated silic a gel preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). The isolated acetyl deri vatives of sterols and triterpene alcohols were identified by melting point , specific rotation, infrared and mass spectrometry. The sterols were brass icasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol and Delta(5)-avenaste rol, Delta(7)-avenasterol, Delta(7)-stigmastenol and alpha-spinasterol. The triterpene alcohols were cycloartanol, cycloartenol, 24-methylenecycloarta nol cyclobranol, dammaradienol, tirucalla-7,24-dienol, butyrospermol, beta- amyrin, germanicol, Psi-4-taraxasterol and lupeol.