MOLECULE

Stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one

Stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one or 4,22-Cholestadien-24-ethyl-3-one belongs to the class of organic compounds known as stigmastanes and derivatives. These are sterol lipids with a structure based on the stigmastane skeleton, which consists of a cholestane moiety bearing an ethyl group at the carbon atom C24. The biosynthesis of sterols shares several steps with that of triterpenes and it occurs through the mevalonic acid pathway (MVA; PMID:17467679), located mainly in the cytoplasm. A key intermediate in the biosynthesis of sterols is 2,3-oxidosqualene, which undergoes several cyclization reactions to yield the tetracyclic structure typical of the stigmastane skeleton. Stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one is a neutral compound. Stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one is one of a small number of phytosteroids (including sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) that are found in cannabis plants (PMID: 6991645). Seven compounds, including stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one, were isolated from crude extracts of the leaves, stems and roots of Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. and Thonn.) Müll. Arg. All compounds had antibacterial activity against pathogens of the gastrointestinal, skin, respiratory and urinary tract (PMID: 26724423).