A comparative study in vitro of physiological activity of triterpene glycosides of marine invertebrates of echinoderm type.

1. The cytostatic and antimicrobial activity of triterpene glycosides of 19 holothurian species of the Pacific tropical zone has been studied. 2. It has been demonstrated that yeast and tumor cells display a comparable sensibility to the action of triterpene oligosides of sea cucumbers. 3. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria are not sensible to the action of glycosides in doses to 500 mkg/ml. 4. Triterpene glycosides-stichoposides, thelothurins and oligosides of Holothuria of genus Bohadschia are the most active in relation to fungal, yeast microflora and tumor cells.