A novel triterpene glycoside from the sea cucumber Holothuria atra

Sea cucumbers are marine invertebrates, commonly used as food, or applied in traditional medicine in Asia. They are known as a rich source of triterpene glycosides.

In the current work, the black sea cucumber Holothuria atra Jaeger, one of the commercially important species in Indonesia, was studied. An 80% methanol crude extract was prepared and fractionated by means of column chromato-graphy (Diaion HP20). Semi-preparative HPLC-DAD-MS led to the isolation of two isomeric compounds.

Both compounds were submitted to extensive NMR, as well as HRMS analysis. The ¹³C-NMR data of compound 1 were in agreement with those of desholothurin B (desulphated holothurin B) [1]. While the HRMS data of compounds 1 and 2 did not differ significantly, differences were observed for the ¹³C-NMR data, especially for carbon signals of ring C. Based on 2D NMR, including NOESY, compound 2 was identified as a novel compound, the 12-epimer of 1, and was therefore named 12-epi-desholothurin B.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021

• References

• 1 Kitagawa et al. (1981), Chem. Pharm. Bull.