Abstract
Sterols from both green and etiolated oat plants (Avena sativa) contain sitosterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol, Δ7-stigmastenol, Δ7-cholestenol and campesterol. In the saponin fraction avenacosides A and B and 26-desgluco-avenacosides A and B were detected. Etiolated plants incorporated [4-14C] cholesterol into steryl derivatives (esters, glycosides and acylated glycosides) and also into all of the 4 saponins. [4-14C] sitosterol, however, is incorporated only into steryl derivatives, but not in saponins. From this it is concluded that cholesterol, but not sitosterol is the in vivo precursor of oat saponins.