Maculasteroid compounds exhibit cytotoxic activity against cancer cells, and this study investigates the isolation of these compounds from the starfish species Luidia maculata.

Abstract

The invention relates to maculasteroid AC compounds with the formula Ia-Ic and a method for isolating these compounds from the starfish species Luidia maculata. The maculasteroid AC compounds in the invention exhibit growth-inhibiting activity against five human cancer cell lines: prostate cancer (LNCaP), breast cancer (MCF7), carcinoma (KB), liver cancer (Hep-G2), and lung cancer (SK-LU-1). The method in the invention is highly useful for providing a scientific basis for applied studies aimed at developing anticancer drugs containing these compounds and their derivatives.