Two New Bromophenols from Red Alga Rhodomela confervoides

Two new bromophenols were isolated from Rhodomela confervoides. Their structrues were elucidated as 2, 2‘, 3-tribromo-3‘, 4, 4‘, 5-tetrahydroxy-6‘-hydroxymethyldiphenylmethane and 2, 2‘, 3-tribromo-3‘, 4, 4‘, 5-tetrahydroxy-6‘-ethyloxymethyldiphenylmethane by spectroscopic methods including IR, HREIMS, ID and 2D NMR techniques.     

Two New Norisoprenoid Derivatives from the Red Alga Gymnogongrus flabelliformis

Gymnogongrus flabelliformis Hav. is a red alga belonging to Phyllophoraceae family (Gigartinales order), and widely distributed along the coast of China Sea1. Up to now no chemical constituent of this species has been reported. As a part of our program to assess systematically the chemical and biological diversity of seaweeds distributed in China Sea2-4, the red alga G. flabelliformis was collected along the coast of Qingdao, Shandong Province. We report herein the isolation and structural…     

New Dolabellane Derivatives from the Brown Alga Dictyota pardalis

Reinvestigation of the brown alga Dictyota pardalis f. pseudohamata CRIBB led to the crystallization of 1 and to the isolation of the two new dolabellane derivatives 2 and 3 . X-Ray analysis of 1 and 2 , together with detailed 1D-and 2D-NMR studies on 2 and 3 , allowed their structures to be elucidated as (1R*,3S*,7S*,11R*,4Z)-dolabella-4,8(17), 12(18)-triene-3,7-diol ( 1 ), (1R*,3S*,4S*,7S*,8S*,11R*,14R*,12E)-3,4:7,8-diepoxydolabe11-12-ene-14, 18-diol ( 2 ), and (1R*,3S*,4S*,7S*,8S*,11R*,14R*)-3,4:7,8-diepoxy-l,4,8,12,12-pentamethylbicyclo[9. 3. 0]tetra-decan-14-ol( 3 ).     

A New Bromophenol from the Brown Alga Leathesia nana

A novel bromophenol was isolated from ethanolic extract of the brown alga Leathesia nana S.et G. The structure was elucidated as (E)-3-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-methylpropenal by spectroscopic methods including IR, HREIMS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum

One new cembrane diterpene, 2R,7R,8R-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (1), together with three known compounds, 7alpha,8beta-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (2), 7beta-acetoxy-8alpha-hydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3), and sarcophine (4), have been isolated from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum. Their structures were determined using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. 7beta-Acetoxy-8alpha-hydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3) exhibits cytotoxic activity against HepG2, HCT-116, and HeLa cells with IC50 values of 3.6, 2.3, and 6.7 microg/mL, respectively.     

A New Sesquiterpene-substituted Benzoic Acid from the Brown Alga Dictyopteris divaricata

A new sesquiterpene-substituted benzoic acid has been isolated from the brown Alga Dictyopteris divaricata Okam.Its structure was elucidated as 3-[(2-hydroxy-2,5,5,8a-tetramethyldecahydro-1-naphthalenyl)methyl]-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, named dictyvaric acid on the basis of spectroscopic methods including IR, HRFABMS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

Diterpenes from the Brown Alga Dictyota crenulata

The crude extract of the Brazilian brown alga Dictyota crenulata was analyzed by NMR spectroscopy and HRGC-MS techniques. Seven diterpenes were identified: pachydictyol A, dictyodial, 4beta-hydroxydictyodial A, 4beta-acetoxydictyodial A, isopachydictyol A, dictyol C and dictyotadiol. Xeniane diterpenes have previously been found in D. crenulata from the Pacific Ocean. The results characterize D. crenulata as a species that provides prenylated guaiane (group I) and xeniane diterpenes (group III), thus making it a new source of potential antiviral products.     

New Cytotoxic Laurene‐, Cuparene‐, and Laurokamurene‐Type Sesquiterpenes from the Red Alga Laurencia obtusa

Three new sesquiterpene alcohols, laur‐2‐ene‐3,12‐diol ( 1 ), cuparene‐3,12‐diol ( 2 ), and 8,11‐dihydro‐1‐methoxylaurokamuren‐12‐ol ( 3 ), along with one known diterpene, kahukuen‐10‐ol ( 4 ) have been isolated from the organic extract of the red alga Laurencia obtusa. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds were evaluated against three cancer cell lines, i.e., KB, HepG2, and MCF‐7. Compound 4 exhibited a wide range of cytotoxic activity against KB, HepG2, and MCF‐7 cell lines with IC₅₀ of 0.100, 0.057, and 0.054 μm, respectively. In addition, 1 showed moderate activities towards KB and MCF‐7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.171 and 0.184 μM , respectively and 2 exhibited a moderate activity against KB cell line at a concentration of 0.213 μg/ml. On the other hand, compound 3 exhibited no cytotoxic activity against any of the three cell lines.     

Four New Pregnane Steroids from Aglaia abbreviata and Their Cytotoxic Activities

Four new pregnane steroids, aglaiasterols A–D ( 1 – 4 ), have been isolated from the EtOH extract of stems of Aglaia abbreviata. They were identified as (3α,5α,17Z)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 1 ), (3β,5α,17E)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 2 ), (3β,5α,17Z)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 3 ), and (3α,5α,20S*)‐3‐hydroxy‐16‐oxopregnan‐20‐yl acetate ( 4 ) on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques. Compounds 1 – 4 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against K562 (human leukemia), MCF‐7 (human breast cancer), and KB (human oral epithelium cancer) cells, and drug‐resistant cells of K562/A02, MCF‐7/ADM, and KB/VCR. These isolates showed weak to moderate inhibitory effects on the growth of the tested cell lines.     

Two New C21 Steroids from Marsdenia tenacissima

Two new C21 steroids were isolated from the CHCI3 extract of the stem of Marsdenia tenacissima. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods, their structures were elucidated as 1713-tenacigenin B (2) and 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(l→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-tenacigenin C (3). The structure of the known aglycon tenacigenin C was revised as 5ct, 9ct, 1713-pregnane-313, 813, llct, 1213, 14β-pentanol-20-one. Compound 3 is the firstreported glycoside of tenacigenin C.     

Studies on the Two New Steroids from Polygonum nepalense Meissn

Polygonum nepalense Meissn which has a strong effect on stopping bleeding, making blood circling and which also is a traditional Chinese folk drug for treating diarrhea, lung carcinoma, etc. (1, 2 ). But few is known about its chemical constituents. We have carried out a detailed chemical investigation and have isolated two new steroids.     

Two New Cytotoxic Naphthoquinones from Didymocarpus hedyotideus

A new naphthoquinone, 6‐hydroxy‐α‐dunnione ( 1 ) and a new binaphthoquinone, methyl 1,1′,4,4′‐tetrahydro‐3‐hydroxy‐1,1′,4,4′‐tetraoxo[2,2′‐binaphthalene]‐3′‐carboxylate ( 2 ), along with ten known compounds, including naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, and phenylethanoid glucosides, were isolated from the roots of Didymocarpus hedyotideus Chun . Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses, particularly 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic activities of the two new naphthoquinones were also evaluated.     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton auritum

Chemical investigation of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton auritum led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new diterpene cembranoids; 2-epi-sarcophine (2) and (1R,2E,4S,6E,8R,11R,12R)-2,6-cembradiene-4,8,11,12-tetrol (4), as well as two known diterpene cembranoids, reported for the first time from this species, namely sarcophine (1) and (+)-7α,8β-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3). Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The isolated cembranoids were found to display high cytotoxicity against HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line).     

Sesquiterpenes from Red Alga Laurencia tristicha

Three naturally new sesquiterpenes named 10-hydroxyepiaplysin, 10-hydroxyaplysin and 10-hydroxybromoepiaplysin have been isolated from Laurencia tristicha. On the basis of the spectroscopic techniques their structures were elucidated as （3S, 3αR, 8βS）-（-）-2, 3, 3α, 8β3-tetra- hydro-7-bromo-3-hydroxy-3, 3α, 6,8β-tetramethyl-lH-cyclopenta[b]benzofuran, （3R, 3αR, 8βS）- （-）-2,3,3α, 8β-tetrahydro-7-bromo-3-hydroxy-3, 3α,6,8β-tetramethyl-lH-cyclopenta[b]benzofuran and （3S, 3αR, 8βS）-（-）-2, 3,3R, 8β-tetrahydro-3-hydroxy-3,3α,6,8β-tetramethyl-lH-cyclopenta[b]- benzofuran, respectively.     

Three New Polyoxygenated Steroids from Two Species of the South China Sea Gorgonian Muricella flexuosa and Menella verrucosa Brundin

Three new polyoxygenated steroids, muricesteroid ( 1 ), and menellsteroids A ( 2 ) and B ( 3 ), were isolated from two species of the South China Sea gorgonian Muricella flexuosa and Menella verrucosa Brundin , respectively. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, chemical methods and comparison with known related compounds.     

Sesquiterpenes from the Marine Red Alga Laurencia saitoi

Together with five known sesquiterpenes, EtOH extraction of Laurencia saitoi yielded four new compounds, including three sesquiterpenes and one norsesquiterpene derivative. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY), as well as low‐ and high‐resolution mass‐spectrometric analyses.     

Characterization of Two Light-Harvesting Subunits Isolated from the Brown Alga Pelvetia canaliculata: Heterogeneity of Xanthophyll Distribution

The main light-harvesting fraction from Pelvetia canaliculata was isolated on a sucrose density gradient from digitonin-solubilized chloroplasts. After further solubilization by dodecyl maltoside, the bulk fraction was separated into two subunits by preparative isoelectric focusing. The more acidic brown fraction was mainly composed of 22 kDa polypeptides having an apparent pI of 4.55. Its pigment composition was very simple, containing chlorophyll (Chi) a, Chi c and fucoxanthin. The in vivo spectral properties of fucoxanthin, namely a shift in light absorption to the green and efficient energy transmission to Chi a, were conserved in this subunit. No xanthophyll associated with photoprotection was found in this band, even when obtained from photoinhibited thalli. The less acidic green band contained predominantly 22 kDa polypeptides that were resolved into numerous components by denaturing isoelectric focusing. Its pigment composition was more complex, containing, in addition, pigments of the so-called xanthophyll cycle. In photoinhibited thalli, about half of the violaxanthin was converted into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin. All the pigments of the xanthophyll cycle were specifically associated with this subunit, and it may thus have a central role in the thermal dissipation of the absorbed light energy as postulated for light-harvesting complex II isolated from green plants.