Sterols of the adult and juvenile forms of ivy,Hedera helix L.

Abstract Sterols have been isolated from both adult and juvenile ivy in free and esterified form. Stigmasterol or its C‐24 isomer, poriferasterol, is the main component, and lesser amounts of sitosterol, α‐spinasterol, 5α‐stigmast‐7‐en‐3β‐ol, cholesterol, and campesterol also were detected. Flowers and fruits were found to contain a glycoside fraction in which stigmasterol, together with some sitosterol, could be detected.