Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers

Sea cucumbers are benthic marine invertebrate members of the phylum Echinodermata. Due to the absence of a rigid skeleton, these species have developed chemical defenses based on the production of saponins (triterpene glycosides). These secondary metabolites are bioactive molecules with a broad biol...

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Main Authors: Ihcene Khodja, Karim Mezali, Philippe Savarino, Pascal Gerbaux, Patrick Flammang, Guillaume Caulier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5346
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author Ihcene Khodja
Karim Mezali
Philippe Savarino
Pascal Gerbaux
Patrick Flammang
Guillaume Caulier
author_facet Ihcene Khodja
Karim Mezali
Philippe Savarino
Pascal Gerbaux
Patrick Flammang
Guillaume Caulier
author_sort Ihcene Khodja
collection DOAJ
description Sea cucumbers are benthic marine invertebrate members of the phylum Echinodermata. Due to the absence of a rigid skeleton, these species have developed chemical defenses based on the production of saponins (triterpene glycosides). These secondary metabolites are bioactive molecules with a broad biological, ecological, and pharmaceutical spectrum. However, the saponin profiles of several species of sea cucumbers are not known yet. The present study aims to highlight the mixture of saponins in two sea cucumber species from the Algerian coast, namely <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Holothuria</i>) <i>algeriensis</i>, which has been recently described in central and western Algerian waters, and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Roweothuria</i>) <i>arguinensis</i>, originating from the Atlantic Ocean and reported in Algeria for the first time in 2014. Saponin extracts from three individuals of <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and two individuals of <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i> were analyzed using mass spectrometry, i.e., Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), MALDI-High Resolution MS (MALDI-HRMS), Liquid Chromatography MS (LC-MS) and tandem MS (LC-MS/MS). These analyses allow us to detect 11 and 18 elemental compositions for <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i>, respectively, each presenting several isomers. In total, 13 new saponin structures are proposed, of which four are common between the two species, six are specific to <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and three to <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i>. The saponin profiles of the two species were compared to those of other species of the same genus existing on the Algerian coast and the results showed that they share non-sulfated saponins with <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Panningothuria</i>) <i>forskali</i> and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Platyperona</i>) <i>sanctori</i> and sulfated saponins with <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Holothuria</i>) <i>tubulosa</i> and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Roweothuria</i>) <i>poli</i>.
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spelling doaj-art-2e3287c6a1ce4057b9a84e3b788229cc2025-08-20T02:05:06ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-11-012922534610.3390/molecules29225346Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea CucumbersIhcene Khodja0Karim Mezali1Philippe Savarino2Pascal Gerbaux3Patrick Flammang4Guillaume Caulier5Protection, Valorization of Coastal Marine Resources and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Department of Marine Science and Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University—Mostaganem, Route nationale N° 11, P.O. Box 227, Kharrouba, Mostaganem 27000, AlgeriaProtection, Valorization of Coastal Marine Resources and Molecular Systematics Laboratory, Department of Marine Science and Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Life, Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University—Mostaganem, Route nationale N° 11, P.O. Box 227, Kharrouba, Mostaganem 27000, AlgeriaOrganic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons—UMONS, 23, Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, BelgiumOrganic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons—UMONS, 23, Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, BelgiumBiology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons—UMONS, 23, Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, BelgiumBiology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons—UMONS, 23, Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, BelgiumSea cucumbers are benthic marine invertebrate members of the phylum Echinodermata. Due to the absence of a rigid skeleton, these species have developed chemical defenses based on the production of saponins (triterpene glycosides). These secondary metabolites are bioactive molecules with a broad biological, ecological, and pharmaceutical spectrum. However, the saponin profiles of several species of sea cucumbers are not known yet. The present study aims to highlight the mixture of saponins in two sea cucumber species from the Algerian coast, namely <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Holothuria</i>) <i>algeriensis</i>, which has been recently described in central and western Algerian waters, and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Roweothuria</i>) <i>arguinensis</i>, originating from the Atlantic Ocean and reported in Algeria for the first time in 2014. Saponin extracts from three individuals of <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and two individuals of <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i> were analyzed using mass spectrometry, i.e., Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), MALDI-High Resolution MS (MALDI-HRMS), Liquid Chromatography MS (LC-MS) and tandem MS (LC-MS/MS). These analyses allow us to detect 11 and 18 elemental compositions for <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i>, respectively, each presenting several isomers. In total, 13 new saponin structures are proposed, of which four are common between the two species, six are specific to <i>H. (H.) algeriensis</i> and three to <i>H. (R.) arguinensis</i>. The saponin profiles of the two species were compared to those of other species of the same genus existing on the Algerian coast and the results showed that they share non-sulfated saponins with <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Panningothuria</i>) <i>forskali</i> and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Platyperona</i>) <i>sanctori</i> and sulfated saponins with <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Holothuria</i>) <i>tubulosa</i> and <i>Holothuria</i> (<i>Roweothuria</i>) <i>poli</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5346echinodermsholothurianssea cucumbertriterpene glycosidemass spectrometrysaponin profile
spellingShingle Ihcene Khodja
Karim Mezali
Philippe Savarino
Pascal Gerbaux
Patrick Flammang
Guillaume Caulier
Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
Molecules
echinoderms
holothurians
sea cucumber
triterpene glycoside
mass spectrometry
saponin profile
title Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
title_full Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
title_fullStr Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
title_full_unstemmed Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
title_short Structural Characterization and Profiles of Saponins from Two Algerian Sea Cucumbers
title_sort structural characterization and profiles of saponins from two algerian sea cucumbers
topic echinoderms
holothurians
sea cucumber
triterpene glycoside
mass spectrometry
saponin profile
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/22/5346
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