4-Methylenesterols from a sponge Theonella swinhoei.

Three new 4-methylenesterols, theonellasterol K (1), acetyltheonellasterol (2) and acetyldehydroconicasterol (3), along with two known sterols, theonellasterol (4) and theonellasterone (5), were isolated from the sponge Theonella swinhoei. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic data and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, K562 and Molt 4 cancer cell lines.