Triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix. Structure and cytotoxic action of cucumariosides A2, A7, A9, A10, an, A13 and A14, seven new minor non-sulfated tetraosides and an aglycone with an uncommon 18-hydroxy group.

Seven new minor triterpene glycosides, cucumariosides A2 (1), A7 (2), A9 (3), A10 (4), A11 (5), A13 (6) and A14 (7) have been isolated from the Far Eastern sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix. Structures of the glycosides were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopy and MS. Glycosides 1-7 belong to the group of cucumariosides A, having linear tetrasaccharide carbohydrate moieties without any sulfate group and possessing 3-O-methyl-D-xylose as a terminal monosaccharide unit. Glycosides 1, 2, 5-7 differ from each other in side chain structures in aglycone moieties, while cucumarioside A10 (4) has a 23,24,25,26,27-pentanorlanostane aglycone with 18(16)-lactone. Cucumarioside A9 (3), having an uncommon 18-hydroxy group, is the second representative of the unique metabolically active glycosides that are regarded as intermediates of glycoside biosynthesis in sea cucumbers. Cytotoxic activities of glycosides 1-7 and cucumarioside A8 (8) against mouse spleen lymphocytes and the cells of the ascite form of mouse Ehrlich carcinoma, along with hemolytic activity against mouse erythrocytes and antifungal activity were studied. Cucumariosides A2 (1), A8 (8) and A13 (6) demonstrated high hemolytic activities. Glycosides 1, 4 and 6 showed moderate cytotoxic activity. Only cucumarioside A8 (8), having an 18-oxymethylene group and a 24(25)-double bond, was very active in all the tests.