A new polyhydroxylated steroidal glycoside, asterosaponin P-2, was isolated
from the Far-Eastern starfish Patiria (Asterina) pectinifera. The glycosid
e was identified as the (24R)-29-O-[2-O-sulfo-alpha -L-arabinofuranosyl]-24
-ethyl-5 alpha -cholestane-3 beta ,6 alpha ,8 beta ,15 alpha ,16 beta ,29-h
exol Na salt.