Triterpene glycosides from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus Selenka.

Triterpenoidal oligoglycosides from the far eastern sea cucumber Stitchopus japonicus Selenka collected in the Posiet Bay, Japan Sea were investigated. The glycoside fraction was shown to consist of two main components, holotoxins A1 and B1 which have been isolated by chromatography on silica gel columns. The chemical structures of the holotoxins were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physiochemical evidence (for formula see text). The proposed structures were compared with close related but not identical structures of holotoxin A and B from other collection of the same holothurian. The probable reasons of the distinction were discussed. The previously-established difference in glycoside structures between Stichopus japonicus and other representatives of the family Stichopodidae was corroborated.