Ceramides from the sponge Dysidea etheria

Ceramides have been isolated from the polar organic extracts of the sponge Dysidea etheria . The ceramides proved to be amides of sphingosine with either normal, saturated fatty acids or saturated α‐hydroxy fatty acids. Sphingosine was identified by isolation from the hydrolysis reaction mixture, acetylation and comparison of its physical and spectral properties with those reported for authentic sphingosine triacetate. The acids were identified by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis of their respective methyl esters.