Structure–activity relationships of novel neuritogenic steroid glycosides from the Okinawan starfish Linckia laevigata Original Research Article

Six new steroid glycosides, linckosides F–K, and a related metabolite were isolated from the Okinawan blue starfish Linckia laevigata as mimics or enhancers of nerve growth factor (NGF). Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatization. Structure–activity relationships suggest that both a carbon branch modified by a pentose at the side chain and 2′-O-methylxylopyranose at C-3 of the aglycon are important for neuritogenic activity.