Prevention by polyhydroxysteroids and saponins of asterina pectinifera of the desquamation of stratum corneum cells

Abstract

Two polyhydroxysteroids and three steroidal saponins (pectiniosides A, B and C) were isolated as bioactive substances from Asterina pectinifera. These compounds inhibited the release of guinea-pig skin stratum corneum cells by 48–67% (control, 0%) at 2 mg/ml. It is suggested that the bioactivity of these compounds is connected with the remedial and preventive effects of an aqueous extract of A. pectinifera on rough human skin. © 2002 by Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.