Ergostane is a tetracyclic triterpene, also known as 24S-methylcholestane.
The compound itself has no known uses;[citation needed] however various functionalized analogues are produced by plants and animals.
The most important of these are the heavily derivatised withanolides.
[1][2] However simpler forms do exist, such as the sterane campestane (24R-methylcholestane).
Along with cholestane and stigmastane, this sterane is used as a biomarker for early eukaryotes.