Asterosaponins from the Far Eastern starfish Leptasterias ochotensis and their anticancer activity

• A steroid composition of the starfish Leptasterias ochotensis was studied.
• Two asterogenins (1, 2) and six new asterosaponins (3–8) were isolated.
• Compounds 2–8 were studied on cytotoxic and cell colony inhibitory actions.
• Glycosides 3–5 showed a significant inhibition of tumor cell colony formation.

Six new asterosaponins, leptasteriosides A–F (3–8), one new and one previously known asterogenins (1, 2) were isolated from the alcoholic extract of the Far Eastern starfish Leptasterias ochotensis. The structures of 1–8 were elucidated by extensive NMR and ESI-MS techniques. Compounds 2–8 showed slight or moderate cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines RPMI-7951 and T-47D. The asterosaponins 3–5 demonstrated a significant inhibition of RPMI-7951 and T-47D cell colony formation in soft agar clonogenic assay in nontoxic doses.

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