Holothuria forskali

Some triterpene glycosides from holothurians belonging to the family Stichopodidae show also antitumor activities [67, 60]. Holotoxin Al (33) from Apostichopus (=Stichopus) japonicus inhibited the growth of the solid form of Ehrlich tumor and Sarcoma-37 in mice on 37-65 and 13-53 %, respectively, at doses of 1.25 and 2.50 mg/kg. Triterpene glycosides from Holothuria forskali have cytotoxic activities against tumor cells [68]. 

Holothurinosides A (75), C (76) and D (77) from Holothuria forskali and the desulfated derivative 78 at a concentration 20 )Xg/ml caused an inhibition of cytopathic effect induced by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in cell culture (20% inhibition of VSV in baby hamster kidney cell line) [68]. 

Another structure so far found only in the Echinodermata is the disaccharide Fuca(l-4)Neu5Gca(2-) from sea urchin eggs (Hotta 1977) and the cuverian tubules of the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali (unpublished) again the sialic acid residue is internal. 

Habermehl, G., and G. Volkwein Aglycones of the Toxins from the Cuvierian Organs of Holothuria forskali and a New Nomenclature for the Aglycones from Holothurioideae. Toxicon 9, 319 (1971). 

Isemura, M., Zahn, R. K., and Schmid, K., 1973, A new neuraminic acid derivative and three types of glycopeptides isolated from the cuvierian tubules of the sea cucumber Holothuria forskali, Biochem. J. 131 509. 

A previously unknown sialic acid was found in two glycopeptide fractions isolated from the Cuvierian tubules of the sea cucumber, Holothuria forskali. It is resistant to enzymic cleavage by neuraminidase, even after mild alkaline hydrolysis for the removal of O-acyl residues however it is readily released by mild acid hydrolysis. Its chromatographic properties differ from other known sialic acids, but presumably the new species possesses neuraminic acid as its basic structure (Isemura a/., 1973). See Chapter 1. 

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