Structures and Bioactivities of Quadrangularisosides A, A1, B, B1, B2, C, C1, D, D1-D4, and E from the Sea Cucumber Colochirus quadrangularis: The First Discovery of the Glycosides, Sulfated by C-4 of the Terminal 3-O-Methylglucose Residue. Synergetic Effect on Colony Formation of Tumor HT-29 Cells of these Glycosides with Radioactive Irradiation

Thirteen new mono-, di-, and trisulfated triterpene glycosides, quadrangularisosides A-D₄ (1-13) have been isolated from the sea cucumber Colochirus quadrangularis, which was collected in Vietnamese waters. The structures of these glycosides were established by 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI (High Resolution Electrospray Ionization) mass spectrometry. The novel carbohydrate moieties of quadrangularisosides D-D₄ (8-12), belonging to the group D, and quadrangularisoside E (13) contain three sulfate groups, with one of them occupying an unusual position-at C(4) of terminal 3-O-methylglucose residue. Quadrangularisosides A (1) and D₃ (11) as well as quadrangularisosides A₁ (2) and D₄ (12) are characterized by the new aglycones having 25-hydroperoxyl or 24-hydroperoxyl groups in their side chains, respectively. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1-13 against mouse neuroblastoma Neuro 2a, normal epithelial JB-6 cells, erythrocytes, and human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells were studied. All the compounds were rather strong hemolytics. The structural features that most affect the bioactivity of the glycosides are the presence of hydroperoxy groups in the side chains and the quantity of sulfate groups. The membranolytic activity of monosulfated quadrangularisosides of group A (1, 2) against Neuro 2a, JB-6 cells, and erythrocytes was relatively weak due to the availability of the hydroperoxyl group, whereas trisulfated quadrangularisosides D₃ (11) and D₄ (12) with the same aglycones as 1, 2 were the least active compounds in the series due to the combination of these two structural peculiarities. The erythrocytes were more sensitive to the action of the glycosides than Neuro 2a or JB-6 cells, but the structure-activity relationships observed for glycosides 1-13 were similar in the three cell lines investigated. The compounds 3-5, 8, and 9 effectively suppressed the cell viability of HT-29 cells. Quadrangularisosides A₁ (2), C (6), C₁ (7), and E (13) possessed strong inhibitory activity on colony formation in HT-29 cells. Due to the synergic effects of these glycosides (0.02 μM) and radioactive irradiation (1 Gy), a decreasing of number of colonies was detected. Glycosides 1, 3, and 9 enhanced the effect of radiation by about 30%.

Psolusosides C1, C2, and D1, Novel Triterpene Hexaosides from the Sea CucumberPsolus fabricii (Psolidae, Dendrochirotida)

Three new triterpene glycosides, psolusosides C1 (1), C2 (2) and D1 (3) have been isolated from the sea cucumber Psolus fabricii collected in the Sea of Okhotsk in the shallow waters of Onekotan Island (Kurile Islands). Five known glycosides: cladolosides B, M1, P2, isolated earlier from the sea cucumbers of genus Cladolabes and holotoxin A1 with 27- nor-25-oxo-holotoxin A1, isolated earlier from Apostichopus japonicus have also been found. The glycoside structures were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR mass-spectrometry. Compounds 1–3 possess hexasaccharide carbohydrate chains, identical for 1 and 2 and different in the third monosaccharide residue for 3. All the glycosides comprise holostane type aglycones with a 9(11)-double bond and a 16-keto-group and differ from each other in the side chains structures.

The Assignment of the Absolute Configuration of C-22 Chiral Center in the Aglycones of Triterpene Glycosides from the Sea Cucumber Cladolabes schmeltzii and Chemical Transformations of Cladoloside C

The absolute R-configuration of the C-22 chiral center in cladoloside C (1) and therefore in all related glycosides isolated from the sea cucumber Cladolabes schmeltzii has been assigned by Mosher‘s method. Some chemical transformations of the native glycoside 1 were carried out to apply this method. This resulted in the isolation and elucidation of chemical structures of progenin 2 and artefact aglycones 3 and 4, obtained from 1 and assignment of the absolute R-configuration of C-22 in the progenin 2. The coincidence of C-22 configurations in the studied compounds with those of the earlier known lanostane-type aglycone of frondoside C and holostane-type aglycone of cladoloside C (1) confirms the generic biosynthetic pathways to different types of sea cucumber glycoside aglycones. It suggests the same R-configuration of C-22 chiral centers in all the sea cucumber glycosides having C-22 functionalities.