Djakonoviosides A, A1, A2, B1-B4 - Triterpene Monosulfated Tetra- and Pentaosides from the Sea Cucumber Cucumaria djakonovi: The First Finding of a Hemiketal Fragment in the Aglycones; Activity against Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Seven new monosulfated triterpene glycosides, djakonoviosides A (1), A(1) (2), A(2) (3), and B-1-B-4 (4-7), along with three known glycosides found earlier in the other Cucumaria species, namely okhotoside A(1)-1, cucumarioside A(0)-1, and frondoside D, have been isolated from the far eastern sea cucumber Cucumaria djakonovi (Cucumariidae, Dendrochirotida). The structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and confirmed by HR-ESI-MS data. The compounds of groups A and B differ from each other in their carbohydrate chains, namely monosulfated tetrasaccharide chains are inherent to group A and pentasaccharide chains with one sulfate group, branched by C-2 Qui2, are characteristic of group B. The aglycones of djakonoviosides A(2) (3), B-2 (5), and B-4 (7) are characterized by a unique structural feature, a 23,16-hemiketal fragment found first in the sea cucumbers' glycosides. The biosynthetic pathway of its formation is discussed. The set of aglycones of C. djakonovi glycosides was species specific because of the presence of new aglycones. At the same time, the finding in C. djakonovi of the known glycosides isolated earlier from the other species of Cucumaria, as well as the set of carbohydrate chains characteristic of the glycosides of all investigated representatives of the genus Cucumaria, demonstrated the significance of these glycosides as chemotaxonomic markers. The membranolytic actions of compounds 1-7 and known glycosides okhotoside A(1)-1, cucumarioside A(0)-1, and frondoside D, isolated from C. djakonovi against human cell lines, including erythrocytes and breast cancer cells (MCF-7, T-47D, and triple negative MDA-MB-231), as well as leukemia HL-60 and the embryonic kidney HEK-293 cell line, have been studied. Okhotoside A(1)-1 was the most active compound from the series because of the presence of a tetrasaccharide linear chain and holostane aglycone with a 7(8)-double bond and 16 & beta;-O-acetoxy group, cucumarioside A(0)-1, having the same aglycone, was slightly less active because of the presence of branching xylose residue at C-2 Qui2. Generally, the activity of the djakonoviosides of group A was higher than that of the djakonoviosides of group B containing the same aglycones, indicating the significance of a linear chain containing four monosaccharide residues for the demonstration of membranolytic action by the glycosides. All the compounds containing hemiketal fragments, djakonovioside A(2) (3), B-2 (5), and B-4 (7), were almost inactive. The most aggressive triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line was the most sensitive to the glycosides action when compared with the other cancer cells. Okhotoside A(1)-1 and cucumarioside A(0)-1 demonstrated promising effects against MDA-MB-231 cells, significantly inhibiting the migration, as well as the formation and growth, of colonies.

Automated summary

Seven new monosulfated triterpene glycosides, named djakonoviosides A (1), A(1) (2), A(2) (3), and B-1-B-4 (4-7), were isolated from the far eastern sea cucumber Cucumaria djakonovi. These compounds have different carbohydrate chains and aglycones, exhibiting significant membranolytic actions against human cell lines, particularly the triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The presence of new aglycones in C. djakonovi and the shared glycoside patterns among different Cucumaria species highlight the importance of these glycosides as chemotaxonomic markers.