title: Relationships between chemical structures and functions of triterpene glycosides isolated from sea cucumbers.
abstract: Many marine triterpene glycosides have in vitro and in vivo activities with very low toxicity, suggesting that they are suitable agents for the prevention and treatment of different diseases, particularly cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of natural marine compounds in cancer, immune, and other various cells are not fully known. This review focuses on the structural characteristics of marine triterpene glycosides and how these affect their biological activities and molecular mechanisms. In particular, the membranotropic and membranolytic activities of frondoside A and cucumariosides from sea cucumbers and their ability to induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis have been discussed, with a focus on structure-activity relationships. In addition, the structural characteristics and antitumor effects of stichoposide C and stichoposide D have been reviewed along with underlying their molecular mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joo-In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Rahn
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea ; Immune-Network Pioneer Research Center, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Gun
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: The Laboratory of Chemistry of Marine Natural Products, G. B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science Vladivostok, Russia.
authors.forename: Valentin A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Stonik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea ; Immune-Network Pioneer Research Center, Dong-A University Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kwak
keywords: anticancer activity; cucumarioside; frondoside A; membrane transporters; stichoposides; triterpene glycosides