Two new asterosaponins from the starfish Asterias rubens: application of a cryogenic NMR probe head

We report two new asterosaponins from the Baltic starfish Asterias rubens along with their ¹H and ¹³C NMR data. The compounds were isolated after on‐flow liquid chromatography–NMR–mass spectrometry screening indicated that they had not been identified before. The one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR experiments used to elucidate the structures were recorded using a 5 mm cryogenic probe head. The advantages of cryogenic probes for this kind of examination in comparison with conventional probe heads are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Steroid polyols from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta

A new polyhydroxylated steroid (20R,24S)-5-cholestane-3,6,15,24-tetraol and a known glycoside, laeviuscoloside G, was isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Henricia sanguinolenta, collected in the sea of Okhotsk, and characterized.     

Gangliosides from the starfishEvasterias echinosoma: identification of a disialoganglioside containing 8-O-methyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid andN-formylgalactosamine

Gangliosides were isolated from the starfishEvasterias echinosoma and their structures were elucidated by chemical and physicochemical methods. Two major gangliosides were found to be disialogangliosides, whose carbohydrate chain is based on the trisaccharide β-N-acylgalactosaminyl-(l→3)-β-galactosyl-(l→4)-β-glucose (acyl is formyl or acetyl), both residue at of 8-O-methyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid being attached to theN-acylgalactosamine residue at positions 3 and 6. The minor components are disialogangliosides with linear carbohydrate chains in which the terminal sialic acid residue is attached to the penultimateN-acetylneuraminic acid residue at positions 4, 8, or 9. The lipid part of the gangliosides consists of sphingenine and unsubstituted fatty acids (mainly, palmitic and stearic acids). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 156–161, January, 2000.     

Sulfated steroid glycosides from the Viet Namese starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linckia laevigata</Emphasis>

Five sulfated steriodal compounds including one new glycoside called linckoside L7 (1) and four previously known glycosides 2–5 were isolated from the starfish Linckia laevigata. The structure sodium (22E, 24R)-3-O-(2-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-29-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-24-ethylcholest-4,22-dien-3β,6β,8,15α,16β,29-hexaol 15-O-sulfate was proposed for L7. Linckoside L7 inhibited fertilization and egg-cell development in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 64–67, January–February, 2007.     

The fate of mercury species injected into coelomic fluid of starfish Leptasterias polaris

Mature starfish Leptasterias polaris, collected in the St Lawrence Estuary (eastern Canada), were exposed to two mercury species (HgCI₂ and CH₃HgCI) via injections into the coelomic fluid. In vivo effects of some complexing agents (glutathione, mercaptoethanol and EDTA) on the distribution of ²⁰³Hg-labelled species in starfish organs and tissues and their possible role in mercury transport through membranes were studied over a 24 h period. The excretion of ammonia and mercury was also measured. When injected alone, inorganic mercury and methylmercury [CH₃Hg(II)] were distributed in all organs, with a preferential adsorption in gonads, pyloric caeca and stomach. Mercury excretion was very low under all conditions studied. Mercaptoethanol, a small thiol ligand, was very efficient in reducing both mercury species in the coelomic fluid and seems to have promoted translocation towards most organs of the starfish. Its action is attributed to the formation of small and neutral complexes, HgL₂ and CH₃HgL, which can diffuse through membranes preserving their integrity. Glutathione increased the translocation of CH₃Hg(II) towards surrounding organs, but had no apparent effect on inorganic mercury. EDTA promoted the transport of inorganic mercury only. These results highlight (1) the particular interest of starfish to workers studying in vivo chemical complexation of mercury species, and (2) the potential role of complexing molecules in the biotransport of mercury species through living membranes.     

Asterosaponin P2 from the Far-Eastern starfishpatiria (asterina) pectinifera

A new polyhydroxylated steroidal glycoside, asterosaponin P₂, was isolated from the Far-Eastern starfishPatiria (Asterina) pectinifera. The glycoside was identified as the 24R)-29-O-[2-O-sulfo-α-L-arabinofuranosyl]-24-ethyl-5α-cholestane-3β, 6α,8β,15α,16β,29-hexol Na salt. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1818–1820, October. 2000     

Polar steroidal compounds from the Far-Eastern starfish Lethasterias nanimensis chelifera

In addition to the salts described previously (with a sulfated steroid as the anion and the alkaloid salsolinol as the cation), nine other steroidal compounds including three new compounds were isolated from the Far-Eastern starfish Lethasterias nanimensis chelifera collected near the coast of the Onekotan island (Kuril isles). A nonsteroidal compound found in this starfish is (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro--carboline-3-carboxylic acid. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.     

Gangliosides from the starfishEvasterias echinosoma: identification of a disialoganglioside containing 8-O-methyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid andN-formylgalactosamine

Gangliosides were isolated from the starfishEvasterias echinosoma and their structures were elucidated by chemical and physicochemical methods. Two major gangliosides were found to be disialogangliosides, whose carbohydrate chain is based on the trisaccharide β-N-acylgalactosaminyl-(l→3)-β-galactosyl-(l→4)-β-glucose (acyl is formyl or acetyl), both residue at of 8-O-methyl-N-acetylneuraminic acid being attached to theN-acylgalactosamine residue at positions 3 and 6. The minor components are disialogangliosides with linear carbohydrate chains in which the terminal sialic acid residue is attached to the penultimateN-acetylneuraminic acid residue at positions 4, 8, or 9. The lipid part of the gangliosides consists of sphingenine and unsubstituted fatty acids (mainly, palmitic and stearic acids). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 156–161, January, 2000.     

Granulatosides D,E and other polar steroid compounds from the starfish Choriaster granulatus. Their immunomodulatory activity and cytotoxicity

Two new steroid glycosides, granulatosides D (1) and E (2), belonging to the group of bi- and monoglycosides of polyhydroxysteroids, respectively, were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the starfish Choriaster granulatus along with thirteen previously known glycosides of polyhydroxysteroids (3–15) and one steroid heptaol (16). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR and ESIMS techniques. Cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities of compounds 1, 3–8, and 10–16 using murine splenocytes and peritoneal macrophages were studied. At a dose of 0.1 μM new glycoside 1 showed immunomodulatory properties, increasing the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) level in peritoneal murine macrophages by 20% and decreasing intracellular ROS level by 21% in pre-treated with endotoxic lipopolysaccharide from E. coli (LPS) peritoneal macrophages.     

Synthesis of 3β,6α-dihydroxy-5α-cholan-23-one

Evidence for the presence of 3β,6α-dihydroxy-5α-chol-9(11)-en-23-one in the aglycone mixture from the starfish Marthasterias glacialis is provided by the synthesis of 3β,6α-dihydroxy-5α-cholan-23-one (19) and its identification in the hydrogenated aglycone mixture. The side-chain is constructed from the 23,24-dinorcholanol (13) by reaction of the 22-tosylate (16) with the acetylide anion, followed by hydration of the resulting 23-yne (17).