Work

Cytotoxic Triterpene Glycosides from Mexican Sea Cucumber Holothuria inornata

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Sea cucumbers (Holothuriidae) are highly valued in traditional medicine and are recognized for their diverse bioactivities, which are largely attributed to their rich triterpene glycoside content. Given that Holothuria inornata was chemically uncharacterized, this study describes the bioassay-guided isolation of these compounds. Nine sulfated saponins were purified, and their structures were elucidated using UPLC-QTOF/HR-ESI-MS n and comprehensive NMR spectroscopy. Six new compounds were identified, including inornatosides A–C ( 1 – 3 ) and 22 R -holothurin B ( 6 ), all possessing a holostane-type aglycone, alongside inornatosides D ( 4 ) and E ( 5 ), which feature unique aglycones. Cytotoxic assays revealed that inornatoside B ( 2 ) exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and human lung adenocarcinoma (SKLU-1) cell lines, with IC 50 values between 0.47 and 0.50 μM surpassing the efficacy of the positive control. These findings not only expand the chemical diversity of holothurins but also position H. inornata as a promising source of anticancer compounds.

Source: Journal of Natural Products

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5c00716

Authors: Esteban López-Sampedro, Roberto Arreguin-Espinosa, Ana M. Simonet

Institutions: Universidad de Cádiz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Echinoderm biology and ecology

Subfield: Aquatic Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500