Three New Asterosaponins from the Starfish Culcita novaeguineae and their Bioactivity

Abstract

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active n-BuOH extract of the starfish Culcita novaeguineae resulted in the isolation of three new sulfated steroidal glycosides (asterosaponins) 1, 2 and 3, as active compounds causing morphological abnormality of Pyricularia oryzae mycelia. Compounds 1 - 3 possess the same pentasaccharide moiety, β-D-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-quinovopyranosyl, linked to C-6 of 3β-sulfated steroidal aglycones and differ from each other in the side chains. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral studies and chemical evidences. Saponins 1 and 3 showed significant cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ values for 1 : 3.57 μg/mL [K-562], 2.55 μg/mL [BEL-7402]; for 3 : 3.75 μg/mL [K-562], 1.89 μg/mL [BEL-7402]), as well as hemolytic activity to rabbit erythrocytes (ED₅₀ values: 16 and 31 μg/mL, respectively), while 2 was inactive in these bioassays.

Key words

Culcita novaeguineae - Oreasteridae - Asterosaponins - Pyricularia oryzae - cytotoxicity - hemolytic activity

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