从中国南沙群岛附近海域的唇软珊瑚中分离得到的化合物三羟基甾醇,能明显抑制二甲苯致小鼠耳肿胀,对鸡蛋清致大鼠足趾肿胀、棉球肉芽肿增生和毛细血管通透性增加及大鼠急性胸膜炎均有明显的抑制作用。该三羟基甾醇具有膜稳定性作用,能够使大鼠炎性组织释放的PGE2明显减少。

Sterol 24-methylene-5α-cholesten-3β,7β,19-triol(MCT)was isolated from a soft coral Nephthea brassica collected from South China Sea. It showed obvious inhibition on many kinds of inflammation such as swelling ears of mice induced by xylene,swelling hind paws of rats induced by egg white,proliferating granuloma induced by cotton pellet in rats and increasing capillary permeability of mice induced by acetic acid. MCT also decreased volume of pleural exudate on acetic acid induced actue pleurisy of rats. These experiments showed its strong anti-inflammatory effects. Dose range used was 0. 163~0. 978 mg/kg ip which presented a good dose-effect relationship.The study on anti-inflammation mechanism indicated that MCT could inhibit the release of inflammation factors such as PGE₂,decrease production of MDA and enhance the stability of membrane.