Cytotoxic triterpene saponins from Cercodemas anceps

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2015 Aug 15;25(16):3151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.06.005. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Abstract

Seven holostane-type triterpene saponins (1-7), including five new compounds namely cercodemasoides A-E (2-6), were isolated from the sea cucumber Cercodemas anceps. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence including HR ESI MS, ESI MS/MS, 1D and 2D NMR. The cytotoxic effects of isolated compounds were evaluated by SRB method on five human cancer cell lines including Hep-G2 (hepatoma cancer), KB (epidermoid carcinoma), LNCaP (prostate cancer), MCF7 (breast cancer), and SK-Mel2 (melanoma). Compounds 1-7 showed potent cytotoxicity on five tested cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.03 ± 0.01 to 7.36 ± 0.46 μM. With respect to the potent cytotoxicity of the isolated saponins, further studies are required to confirm efficacy in vivo and the mechanism of cytotoxic effects.

Keywords: Cercodemas anceps; Cercodemasoide; Cucumariidae; Cytotoxic activity; Sea cucumber.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Saponins / chemistry
  • Saponins / isolation & purification
  • Saponins / toxicity
  • Sea Cucumbers / chemistry*
  • Sea Cucumbers / metabolism
  • Triterpenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Saponins
  • Triterpenes