Polyhydroxysteroidal glycosides from the starfish Anthenea chinensis

Ten new polyhydroxysteroidal glycosides, anthenosides B-K (2-11), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the starfish Anthenea chinensis. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. The unprecedented carbohydrate chain 6-O-methyl-beta-d-galactofuranosyl-(1-->3)-(6-O-methyl-beta-d-galactofuranose) was present in all the compounds except compounds 10 and 11. Compounds 5, 7, a mixture of 8 and 9, and a mixture of 10 and 11 showed inhibitory activity against human tumor K-562 and BEL-7402 cells. Furthermore, the mixture of 10 and 11 also exhibited cytotoxicity against human tumor U87MG cells and promoted tubulin polymerization.