A new asterosaponin, named helianthoside (1), has been isolated from the butanolic extract of the starfish Heliaster helianthus and its structure established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic experiments and chemical correlations. Helianthoside is the first asterosaponin with a C3′-sulphated xylopyranose. The absolute stereochemistry at C24 was determined by the Trost–Mosher method.