Isolation and characterisation of bioactive steroid from a prawn.

Dried prawns (Nematopalaemon tenuipes) were extracted with various solvents like petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol. Petroleum ether extract (PEP), tested for antimicrobial, larvicidal and haemolytic activity on human blood cells showed a positive haemolytic activity and effectively inhibited growth of mosquito larvae. Chemical investigation of this extract confirmed the presence of haemolytic steroid norcholestane.