title: Cytotoxic asterosaponins capable of promoting polymerization of tubulin from the starfish Culcita novaeguineae.
abstract: Four new asterosaponins, novaeguinosides A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the bioactive fraction of the starfish Culcita novaeguineae, as active compounds capable of promoting polymerization of tubulin. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. Compounds 1 and 3 are characterized by sulfated side chains not previously found in asterosaponins, and 1 is the first example of a trisulfated asterosaponin. In the side chains of 2 and 4, the 26-carboxylic acid function is found as an amide derivative of taurine, which is a rare feature and first encountered among asterosaponins. All the asterosaponins showed cytotoxicity against two human tumor cell lines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, People's Republic of China. smnefange@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ai-Dong
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Hou-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013215:Starfish / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects*; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012503:Saponins; D014404:Tubulin; D050257:Tubulin Modulators