Triterpene glycoside antifungal activity

Triterpene glycosides of sea cucumbers demonstrate a wide spectrum of biological effects antifungal, antitumor, hemolytic, cytostatic and immunomodulatory activities [12]. The application of many preparations from sea cucumbers in traditional oriental medicine has been reported [13]. The medicinal properties of these sea food preparations are attributed to triterpene glycosides [13]. 

The biological activities depend on the structures of holothurian triterpene glycosides [42-44]. The structures of both an aglycon part and a carbohydrate chain are very important for the antifungal activity. The 18(20)-lactone presence is necessary for the activity, because the derivative 49 without the lactone does not show antifungal properties. 

Kumar, R., Chaturvedi, A.K., Shukla, P.K., and Lakshmi, V. (2007) Antifungal activity in triterpene glycosides from the sea cucumber Actinopyga lecanora. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 17,4387—4391. 

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