Anti-inflammatory Asterosaponins from the Starfish <i>Astropecten monacanthus</i>

Abstract

Four new asterosaponins, astrosteriosides A–D (<b>1</b>–<b>3</b> and <b>5</b>), and two known compounds, psilasteroside (<b>4</b>) and marthasteroside B (<b>6</b>), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the edible Vietnamese starfish <i>Astropecten monacanthus</i>. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods including FTICRMS and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The effects of the extracts and isolated compounds on pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by measuring the production of IL-12 p40, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. Compounds <b>1</b>, <b>5</b>, and <b>6</b> exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of the positive control. Further studies are required to confirm efficacy <i>in vivo</i> and the mechanism of effects. Such potent anti-inflammatory activities render compounds <b>1</b>, <b>5</b>, and <b>6</b> important materials for further applications including complementary inflammation remedies and/or functional foods and nutraceuticals