Biological activities and biological role of triterpene glycosides from holothuroids (Echinodermata)

For more than thirty years triterpene glycosides from holothuroids (holothurians) have attracted the attention of chemists, biochemists, pharmacologists, and biologists-taxonomists. Triterpene glycosides of holothuroids have a wide spectrum of biological effects: antifungal, antitumor, hemolytic, cytostatic and immunomodulatory activities. The medicinal properties of these preparations are attributed to triterpene glycosides. Many kinds of biological activities of holothuroid triterpene glycosides are a result of their cytotoxic action, i.e. their capability to induce disturbances in cellular membrane maintenance up to lysis. ‘Holothurin’ has a hemolytic action against rabbit erythrocytes. The hemolytic index of ‘holothurin’ is 6–7 times more than that of the so-called ‘saponin’ (the mixture of plant triterpene glycosides). ‘Holothurin’ is active in vitro against Amoeba proteus as are holotoxins from Apostichopus japonicus against Trichomonas vaginalis. The data on anti-protozoan activity of glycosides of Cucumaria echinata are discussed.