Relationship between structure and efficacy of sea cucumber saponins echinoside A and its derivatives on hemolytic activity and prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The hemolytic property discourages the development of sea cucumber saponins on alleviating lipids metabolism disturbance. The hemolytic activity of saponins has been reported to be highly correlative to their chemical structures. The aim of this study was to reduce the hemolytic activity of sea cucumber‐derived saponins echinoside A (EA) and simultaneously remain its effect on alleviating non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by structural modifications. Administration with EA and its derivatives for 8 weeks remarkably mitigated orotic acid‐induced NAFLD via inhibiting the activities and mRNA expressions of enzymes involved in lipogenesis, enhancing the activities and expressions of enzymes related to hepatic lipolysis in a rat model. Importantly, aglycone exhibited a distinct advantage in stimulating hepatic lipolysis compared with EA and dsEA, meanwhile possessed lowest hemolytic activity. This study may provide the theoretical basis to strengthen the application of sea cucumber saponins as food supplements and/or functional ingredients.