This'll do it with two lines and a sideways leap:

my $array = join(",",@array);
my @newarray = 
($array =~ /\*\*\*\d+\*\*\*,(.*?),\*\*\*end\d+\*\*\*/g);
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(I know that's three lines, but that's the way the monk wraps) (shd that be raps?)

If you want the delimiters, ***1*** etc, to be part of the new elements, then leave the ()s out of the regex. Enjoy!, as they say.

§ George Sherston