Torrubiellutins A-C, from insect pathogenic fungus Torrubiella luteorostrata BCC 12904

Investigation of the insect pathogenic fungus Torrubiella luteorostrata led to the isolation of three new macrocyclic torrubiellutins A-C (1-3) and the known pyrone diterpene 4. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data including 1D, 2D NMR, and MS spectral data. The absolute stereochemistry was determined by chemical means using Mosher reactions and Marfey's reagent, together with NOESY spectral data. Torrubiellutin C showed biological activities against KB, MCF-7, NCI-H187, and Vero cell lines with IC₅₀ varying from 0.78 to 4.36 μg/mL, while compound 4 exhibited antimalaria and anti-inflammatory activity with IC₅₀ values of 3.49 and 1.21 μg/mL, respectively.     

An anti-herpes simplex virus-type 1 agent from Xylaria mellisii (BCC 1005)

A structurally unique polyketide, mellisol (1) and 1,8-dihydroxynaphthol 1-O-α-glucopyranoside (3), were isolated from the fungus Xylaria mellisii (BCC 1005). The relative stereostructure of 1 was determined on the basis of X-ray crystallographic data. Compounds 1 and 3 exhibited activity against herpes simplex virus-type 1 with IC₅₀ values of 10.50 and 8.40 μg/mL, respectively. They also showed cytotoxic activity against vero cells at the concentration of 40-50 μg/mL.     

Abiesanordines A-N: fourteen new norditerpenes from Abies georgei

Fourteen new norditerpenoids (abiesanordines A-N, 1-14), including a novel podocarpene bearing a rare enolic structure (abiesanordine A, 1), were isolated from Abies georgei together with eight known ones. Their structures were determined mainly by detailed analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data including HSQC, DQF COSY, HMBC, and NOESY. All the isolates were tested for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, abiesanordine I (9) showed the strongest activity with the IC₅₀ value of 17.0 μg/mL. Furthermore, it exhibited no cytotoxicity against RAW264.7 macrophages under the concentration of 50 μg/mL.     

Modiolin and phthalide derivatives from the endophytic fungus Microsphaeropsis arundinis PSU-G18

One new modiolin, microsphaerodiolin (1), and seven new phthalides, microsphaerophthalides A-G (2-8), together with 12 known compounds were isolated from the endophytic fungus Microsphaeropsis arundinis PSU-G18. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The new 3-oxygenated phthalides are rare natural products. The known 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-buten-1-one exhibited significant antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum SH-MU-4 with an MIC value of 8 μg/mL, moderate antimalarial activity with an IC₅₀ value of 9.63 μg/mL and strong radical scavenging potency with the IC₅₀ value of 0.018 mg/mL. The new compounds 2 and 6 showed moderately antifungal activity against M. gypseum SH-MU-4 and Cryptococcus neoformans, respectively, with equal MIC values of 64 μg/mL.     

Polyhydroxylated steroids from the octocoral Isis hippuris

The specimens for previous studies on the secondary metabolites of the Formosan octocoral Isis hippuris were all collected at Green Island. In the course of our studies on bioactive compounds from marine organisms, the acetone-solubles of the Formosan octocoral I. hippuris collected at Orchid Island has led to the isolation of six new polyoxygenated steroids (1-6), along with a known compound 7. Compound 6 possesses a new type of steroid side chain moiety. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic and physical data. The anti-HCMV (human cytomegalovirus) activity and cytotoxicity against selected cell lines of 1-7 were evaluated. Compound 3 exhibited inhibitory activity against HCMV, with an EC₅₀ values of 2.0 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 7 displayed cytotoxicity against P-388 and A-549 cell lines with ED₅₀ values of 3.2 and 3.86 μg/mL, respectively.     

Lissoclibadins 1-3, three new polysulfur alkaloids, from the ascidian Lissoclinum cf. badium

Three new polysulfur alkaloids, lissoclibadins 1 (1)-3 (3), were isolated from the ascidian Lissoclinum sp. (cf. L. badium Monniot, F. and Monniot, C., 1996). The structures of 1-3 were assigned on the basis of their spectral data, and the computational modeling study was utilized for 1. Compound 1 had a trimeric structure of three identical aromatic anime moieties connected through two sulfide and a disulfide bonds. Compounds 2 and 3 were dimeric structures of the same unit as that of 1 connected through a sulfide and disulfide bonds (2) and two sulfide bonds (3). Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the growth of the marine bacterium Ruegeria atlantica (15.2 mm at 20 μg/disk and 12.2 mm at 5 μg/disk, respectively) and 2 showed antifungal activity to Mucor hiemalis (13.8 mm at 50 μg/disk). Compounds 1-3 were cytotoxic against HL-60 (IC₅₀=0.37, 0.21, and 5.5 μM, respectively).     

Zyzzyanone A, a novel pyrrolo[3,2-f]indole alkaloid from the Australian marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa

A new dipyrroloquinone, zyzzyanone A 1, having a pyrrolo[3,2-f]indole-4,8(1H,7H)-dione skeleton, was isolated from the Australian marine sponge Zyzzya fuliginosa, along with the known pyrroloquinoline alkaloids, makaluvamines C, E, G, H, and L, and damirones A and B. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic data. Zyzzyanone A 1 shows moderate cytotoxic activity against mouse Ehrlich carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ 25 μg/mL), inhibits the cell division of fertilized sea urchin eggs at a concentration of 25 μg/mL, and exhibits UV-A and UV-B absorbing activity.     

Musanahol: a new aureonitol-related metabolite from a Chaetomium sp.

Two antibacterial furano-polyenes, (−)-musanahol (1) and 3-epi-aureonitol (5), and a fatty acid, linoleic acid (8) were isolated from the laboratory cultures of a Chaetomium sp. accessed from tomato fruits, and grown on YMG medium (yeast extract, glucose, malt extract and water) at pH 5.8-6.0. The structure of compound 1, a new furano-polyene, was elucidated by spectroscopic methods that include extensive 2D NMR experiments, double resonance experiments, Mosher's method and PM3 calculations. (−)-Musanahol (1) and 3-epi-aureonitol (5) were present in the culture filtrate of the fungus. 3-epi-Aureonitol (5) completely inhibited the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes at 15.63 μg/mL and Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis and Corynebacterium diphtheriae at 31.25 μg/mL, whereas (−)-musanahol (1) lacked the antimicrobial potency of compound 5 in spite of the similarities in their structures. Linoleic acid (8) was isolated from the mycelia of the fungus; it inhibited the growth of S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis at a minimum concentration of 15.62 μg/mL.     

Fascioquinols A-F: bioactive meroterpenes from a deep-water southern Australian marine sponge, Fasciospongia sp.

Chemical investigation of a southern Australian deep-water marine sponge, Fasciospongia sp., returned the new meroterpene sulfate fascioquinol A (1) together with a series of acid mediated hydrolysis/cyclization products, fascioquinols B (2), C (3) and D (4), and strongylophorine-22 (5). Additional co-metabolites include the new meroterpenes fascioquinol E (6) and fascioquinol F (8), together with the known sponge metabolite geranylgeranyl 1,4-hydroquinone (7). Structures were assigned to 1-8 on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, chemical interconversion, mechanistic and biosynthetic considerations, and literature comparisons. The known 1,4-hydroquinone 7 was identified as the dominant cytotoxic principle in the Fasciospongia sp. extract, with selective inhibitory activity against gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS, IC₅₀ 8 μM) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y, IC₅₀ 4 μM) cell lines. By contrast, while the fascioquinols displayed little or no inhibitory activity towards human cell lines, 1 and 2 displayed promising Gram-positive selective antibacterial activity towards Staphylococcus aureus (IC₅₀ 0.9-2.5 μM) and Bacillus subtilis (IC₅₀ 0.3-7.0 μM).     

Triterpenoids from Cedrela sinensis

Twenty-three new triterpenoids (1-23), all having an apotirucallane skeleton, were isolated from the seeds, leaves, and stems of Cedrela sinensis (Meliaceae). Their structures were determined by 2D NMR experiments, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and chemical methods. These triterpenoids showed a moderate cytotoxic activity against P-388 murine leukemia cells (IC₅₀ 0.26-9.9 μg/mL).     

Natural anti-HIV agents. Part 3: Litseaverticillols A-H, novel sesquiterpenes from Litsea verticillata

Bioassay directed-fractionation led to the identification of litseaverticillols A-H (1-8) from the leaves and twigs of Litsea verticillata Hance. These new sesquiterpenes possess a unique skeleton that was recently designated as ‘litseane’. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic means including 1D and 2D NMR data. Structural configurations were determined by ROESY experiments. Mosher ester reactions and optical rotation measurements established the sesquiterpenes 1-8 as racemates. Isolates 1-8 inhibited HIV-1 replication in HOG.R5 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 2 to 15 μg/ml (8-58 μM) while affecting the growth of HOG.R5 at concentrations 2-3-fold higher. Based on this data, structure-activity relationships can be discerned, suggesting compounds of this class are good candidates for analog production.     

3-Oxyanthranilic acid derivatives from Actinomadura sp. BCC27169

Eight new compounds including 9′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy) phenyl]nonanoic acid (1), 9′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)phenyl] nonanoic acid (2), 11′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)phenyl]undecanoic acid (3), 11′-[2-amino-3-(4″-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)phenyl]undecanoic acid (4), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (5), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (6), 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-2-methyquinoline (7), and 8-(4′-O-methyl-α-ribopyranosyloxy)-2-methylquinoline (8) were isolated from Actinomadura sp. BCC27169. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined based on NMR and high-resolution mass spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of these monosaccharides were revealed by the hydrolysis of compounds 7 and 8. Compounds 3 and 8 exhibited antitubercular activity at MIC 50 μg/mL. Only compound 3 showed cytotoxicity against KB cell at IC₅₀ 18.63 μg/mL, while other isolated compounds were inactive at tested maximum concentration (50 μg/mL).     

Novel dimeric amide alkaloids from Piper chaba Hunter: isolation, cytotoxic activity, and their biomimetic synthesis

Chromatographic fractionation of methanol extract from roots of the Piper chaba Hunter resulted in the isolation of four new dimeric alkaloids, chabamide H (1), I (2), J (3), K (4) together with 11 known compounds (5-15). Their chemical structures and relative stereochemistry were determined on the basis of the comprehensive spectroscopic techniques (IR, Mass, and NMR) and further confirmed by comparison of the data with those reported in literature. In addition, cytotoxic activities of all the dimeric amides (1-7) along with their monomers (8-10) were evaluated against cervical (HELA), breast (MCF-7), liver (HEPG2), colon (HT-29), and colon (COLO-205) cancer cell lines. Among the tested isolates, 5 and 7 exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against COLO-205 cell line with IC₅₀ value of 3.10 μg/mL and 0.018 μg/mL, respectively. To prove biogenesis of the newly isolated compounds, biomimetic synthesis has also been carried out via Diels-Alder reaction by using copper(II) salts in aqueous medium.     

Papuamides E and F, Cytotoxic Depsipeptides from the Marine Sponge Melophlus sp

Two known papuamides C (1) and D (2) together with two new depsipeptides, papuamides E (3) and F (4), were isolated from an undescribed sponge of the genus Melophlus collected in the Solomon Islands. The planar structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies. Papuamides C-F (1-4) showed cytotoxicity against brine shrimp with LD₅₀ values between 92 and 106 μg/mL.     

N-Hydroxypyridone alkaloids,chromone derivatives,and tetrahydroxanthones from the scale-insect pathogenic fungus Orbiocrella sp. BCC 33248

Six new compounds, an N-hydroxypyridone glucoside, orbiocrellin A (1), its aglycone orbiocrellin B (2), chromone glucosides 3 and 4, a dihydrochromone 5a/5b, and a chromone 6, were isolated from the scale-insect pathogenic fungus Orbiocrella sp. BCC 33248. Orbiocrellin A (1) exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (IC₅₀ 3.1 μg/mL) while it was non-cytotoxic. In contrast, orbiocrellin B (2) showed both antimalarial (IC₅₀ 2.1 μg/mL) and cytotoxic (NCI-H187 cells, IC₅₀ 0.70 μg/mL) activities.     

Synthesis and cytotoxicity studies of new dimethylamino-functionalised and heteroaryl-substituted titanocene anti-cancer drugs

From the carbolithiation of N,N-dimethylamino fulvene (3a) and different ortho-lithiated heterocycles (furan, thiophene and N-methylpyrrole), the corresponding lithium cyclopentadienide intermediate (4a-c) was formed. These three lithiated intermediates underwent a transmetallation reaction with TiCl₄ resulting in dimethylamino-functionalised titanocenes 5a-c. When these titanocenes were tested against LLC-PK cells, the IC₅₀ values obtained were of 240, and 28 μM for titanocenes 5a and 5b, respectively. The most cytotoxic titanocene 5c with an IC₅₀ value of 5.5 μM is found to be almost as cytotoxic as cis-platin, which showed an IC₅₀ value of 3.3 μM, when tested on the LLC-PK cell line, and titanocene 5c is approximately 400 times better than titanocene dichloride itself.     

Novel cytotoxic icetexane diterpenes from Premna latifolia Roxb

Chromatographic fractionation of a hexane extract from stem-bark of Premna latifolia yielded three new icetexane diterpenes (1-3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data, mainly NMR and MS, data. Compounds 1-3 were also evaluated for the cytotoxicity against the cancer cell lines (HT-29, A-431, MCF-7, Hep-G2, PC-3, A-549, B-16 F10 and ACHN). Compounds 1 and 2 displayed potent cytotoxic activity against HT-29 and Hep-G2 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.04 and 0.18 μg/mL, respectively.     

Takaneones A-C, prenylated butylphloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum sikokumontanum

Three new prenylated butylphloroglucinol derivatives, takaneones A-C (1-3), were isolated from the MeOH extracts of the aerial parts of Hypericum sikokumontanum together with two new prenylated phloroglucinol derivatives, takaneols A and B (4 and 5). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by exhaustive spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicities of the isolated compounds against human cancer cell lines were evaluated. Compounds 2-4 showed cytotoxicities against K562/Adr multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 4.7 to 10.0 μg/mL, which were slightly more potent than doxorubicin. Their potency of cytotoxicities against MDR cancer cell lines (KB-C2 and K562/Adr) were similar to those against sensitive cell lines (KB and K562).     

Six insecticidal isoryanodane diterpenoids from the bark and twigs of Itoa orientalis

Four rare isoryanodane diterpenoids namely itols A-D (1-4) and two isoryanodane glucosides (5 and 6) were isolated from the bark and twigs of Itoa orientalis. Their structures were determined by NMR and MS techniques and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These six diterpenoids obviously showed insecticidal activity against Spodoptera exigua, with LC₅₀ 28.62 ppm for 1 and 52.76 ppm for 2, respectively. In anti-inflammatory assay, compounds 1 and 4-6 showed anti-COX-2 activity, with inhibitory rates of 54.7-78.3% at 10 μM.     

Polyketides from the mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Acremonium strictum

Five new polyketide derivatives, 6′-hydroxypestalotiopsone C (1), acropyrone (2), bicytosporone D (3), waol acid (4), and pestalotiopene C (5), together with seven known metabolites (6–12), were obtained from extracts of the endophytic fungus Acremonium strictum, isolated from the mangrove tree Rhizophora apiculata. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive NMR and MS analysis. Compounds 6, 7, and 9 showed moderate cytotoxic activity against human cisplatin-sensitive (IC₅₀ values 27.1, 76.2, and 8.3 μM, respectively) and resistant A2780 cell lines (IC₅₀ values 12.6, 30.1, and 19.0 μM, respectively), whereas only 9 exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC value 14.3 μM).