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-{beta-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-fucopyranosyl-(1-4)-[beta-D-fucopyranosyl(1-2)] beta-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 microM) significantly promotes osteoblastic proliferation.