Two compositions,a pure ceramide and a sterol mixture,were isolated from the ethylacetate phase of ethanol extract of the Hypnea Charoides Lamx,collected from the South China Sea.The ceramide was identified by spectroscopic analysis as N-(2’hydroxytetracosyl)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-am ino-octadecane;The six sterols were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry,and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis as Ergost-5,22-dien-3-ol,Ergost-5-en-3-ol,Stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol,Cholesta-5,22-dien-3-ol,Cholesta-5-en-3-ol,Stigmasta-5-en-3-ol.
