Isolation of a new glycoside from starfish, Asterias amurensis Lutken, and its stimulation activity on the proliferation of the UMR106 cell.

A new glycoside compound (1) was isolated from the starfish Asteria amurensis Lutken. The structure for compound 1 was identified as 1-O-{β-D-quinovopyranosyl–(1-2)-β-D-fucopyranosyl-(1-4)-[β-D-fucopyranosyl(1-2)] β-D-quinovopyranosyl}-butanol by extensive NMR experiments as well as chemical evidence. The effects of compound 1 on UMR106 cell proliferation were screened by MTT assay. The results indicate that compound 1 (0.01–100 µM) significantly promotes osteoblastic proliferation.