Abstract
The 4‐desmethylsterols from the leaves ofBeta vulgaris are a mixture of Δ7‐sterols (71%) and Δ5‐sterols (29%). The Δ7‐sterols isolated are spinasterol (24α‐ethylcholesta‐7,22‐dien‐3β‐ol; 45%), 22‐dihydrospinasterol (24α‐ethylcholest‐7‐en‐3β‐ol; 24%), and avenasterol (24‐ethylcholesta‐7,24(28)‐dien‐3β‐ol; 1.5%). The Δ5‐sterols isolated are sitosterol (24α‐ethylcholest‐5‐en‐3β‐ol; 15%), 24ζ‐ethylcholesta‐5,22‐dien‐3β‐ol (7.5%), and 24ζ‐methylcholest‐5‐en‐3β‐ol (7%).