Anti-cancer effects of triterpene glycosides, frondoside a and cucumarioside A2-2 isolated from sea cucumbers

Abstract

Very low toxicity and various in vitro effects of triterpene glycosides make it a suitable agent for cancer prevention and treatment. The molecular mechanisms of action of marine triterpene glycosides, including Frondoside A and Cucumariosides on the apoptosis of cancer cells are not fully investigated. Frondoside A from sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa and Cucumariosides from Cucumaria japonica are pentaosides and the main structural difference between Frondoside A and Cucumarioside A2-2 is in the functional group at C-16 of the aglycone (acetoxy or keto group) and the third carbohydrate unit in the carbohydrate chain. They strongly induce apoptosis of leukemic cells but Frondoside A-induced apoptosis is more potent and rapid than Cucumarioside A2-2-induced apoptosis. The effects of Frondoside A and A2-2 for cell death-inducing capability can be compared with attention paid to structure-activity relationships. In this review, the differential effects of Frondoside A and Cucumarioside on the apoptosis of leukemic cells are discussed.