Lyngbyacyclamides A and B, novel cytotoxic peptides from marine cyanobacteria Lyngbya sp.

Lyngbyacyclamides A (1) and B (2), novel cyclic peptides, were isolated from marine cyanobacteria Lyngbya sp. collected in Okinawa, Japan. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses and degradation studies. They moderately inhibited the growth of B16 mouse melanoma cells.     

A cytotoxic dimeric furanoheliangolide from Piptocoma rufescens

A new sesquiterpene lactone, rufescenolide C (1), the first furanoheliangolide dimer, was isolated from the leaves of Piptocoma rufescens, collected in the Dominican Republic. Its structure was determined by interpretation of its spectroscopic data, with the absolute configuration being established by analysis of the CD spectrum. A plausible biogenesis of this dimer is proposed. This compound showed potent cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ value of 150 nM, when tested against HT-29 human colon cancer cells.     

Sinutriangulin A, a novel diterpenoid from the soft coral Sinularia triangula

A novel compound, named sinutriangulin A (1), was isolated from the soft coral Sinularia triangula. The compound possesses a new carbon skeleton that is derived from the cubitane skeleton. The structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. In addition, compound 1 exhibited weak cytotoxicity toward human tumor cell lines CCRF-CEM and DLD-1.     

A trypanocidal diterpene with novel skeleton from Dracocephalum komarovi

A new diterpene, komarovispirone (1) with a spiro-octahydroindene skeleton, was isolated from Dracocephalum komarovi. The structure was elucidated by extensive analyses of spectral data. Komarovispirone (1) showed trypanocidal activity against epimastigote of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of American trypanosomiasis, with a minimum lethal concentration of 23 μM.     

Cochinchistemonine, a novel skeleton alkaloid from Stemona cochinchinensis

Cochinchistemonine (1), an alkaloid with a novel skeleton, was isolated from the roots of Stemona cochinchinensis collected from northern Vietnam. Its structure was established on the basis of one- and two-dimensional NMR and other spectroscopic studies. The relative configuration was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment.     

Cytotoxic and novel skeleton compounds from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana

The novel skeleton compounds, chamaecypanone C (3) and obtunorlignan A (4) were isolated from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana. The structure of 3 was elucidated as a dimeric of monoterpene and norlignan with tricyclo[5.2.2.0^2.6]undecane and the structure of 4 was elucidated as a norlignan skeleton by spectroscopic methods. Compound 3 exhibits potent cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.19 to 0.52 μM, whereas 4 has no activity.     

Penioxalamine A,a novel prenylated spiro-oxindole alkaloid from Penicillium oxalicum TW01-1

Penioxalamine A (1), a novel prenylated spiro-oxindole alkaloid having a unique seven-membered nitrogen heterocycle system, was isolated from the fungus Penicillium oxalicum TW01-1. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of the spectral data, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and CD analysis. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against HL-60 cell line. The possible biosynthetic pathway of 1 was also proposed.     

Kehokorins A-C, novel cytotoxic dibenzofurans isolated from the myxomycete Trichia favoginea var. persimilis

Kehokorins A (1)-C (3), three novel dibenzofurans, have been isolated from field-collected fruit bodies of the myxomycete, Trichia favoginea var. persimilis, and their structures were elucidated by spectral data. Kehokorin A (1) was a α-l-rhamnopyranoside of kehokorin B (2), while kehokorin C (3) was a 1-demethoxy analog of 2. Kehokorin A (1) was cytotoxic against HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ value of 1.5 μg/mL.     

Nakiterpiosin and nakiterpiosinone, novel cytotoxic C-nor-D-homosteroids from the Okinawan sponge Terpios hoshinota

Two new cytotoxic compounds, nakiterpiosin (1) and nakiterpiosinone (2), were isolated from the Okinawan sponge Terpios hoshinota. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereostructure of 1 was also determined by a modified Mosher's method. Nakiterpiosin (1) and nakiterpiosinone (2) showed potent cytotoxicity against mouse lymphocytic leukemia cell (P388).     

Lycopladine H, a novel alkaloid with fused-tetracyclic skeleton from Lycopodium complanatum

A novel Lycopodium alkaloid, lycopladine H (1), with a fused-tetracyclic ring system consisting of an azocane ring connected to a [2,2,2]-bicyclooctane ring and a 3-piperidone ring, was isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Neoverataline A and B, two antifungal alkaloids with a novel carbon skeleton from Veratrum taliense

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract of the roots and rhizomes of Veratrum taliense yielded two new and thirteen known steroidal alkaloids. The structures of the two new compounds, neoverataline A and B, were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses to be 3,4-secocevane-4,9-olid-14,15,16,20-tetra-ol-3-oic acid and 3,4-secocevane-4,9-olid-7,14,15,16,20-penta-ol-3-oic acid, respectively, and are a novel carbon skelton. All of the fifteen alkaloids were subjected to in vitro antifungal assays, which showed that the verazine- (veramitaline, stenophylline B, stenophylline B-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, veramiline-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) and jerveratrum-type (jervine, jervine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside) alkaloids exhibited strong antifungal activities against the phytopathogenic fungus Phytophthora capisis with MICs of 160, 120, 160, 80, 80 and 120 μg·L⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the verazine-type alkaloids stenophylline B, stenophylline B 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and veramiline 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were shown to also inhibit the growth of another fungal phytopathogen Rhizoctonia cerealis with MICs of 160, 120 and 120 μg mL⁻¹. The MICs of triadimefon (an antifungal agrochemical used herein as a positive control) against P. capisis and R. cerealis were 120 and 80 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. A preliminary structure-activity relationship regarding these alkaloids has been formulated.     

A phenyldilactone,bisnorsesquiterpene, and cytotoxic phenolics from Maytenus senegalensis leaves

Maytenus senegalensis Lam. (Celastraceae) leaves are traditionally used in West Africa for the management of cancer and other disorders associated with inflammation. In this study, bioactivity-guided fractionation of the methanol leaf extract of Maytenus senegalensis led to the isolation of 11 compounds, including the new phenyldilactone, maysedilactone (1). All isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against mouse lymphoma cell line (L5178Y). Only (−) epigallocathechin showed high cytotoxicity and completely inhibited cell growth at the investigated dose of 10 μg/mL. This result supports the claimed efficacy of Maytenus senegalensis leaf extract in ethnomedicinal treatment of cancer.     

Gomerones A-C, halogenated sesquiterpenoids with a novel carbon skeleton from Laurencia majuscula

The structures and relative sterochemistry of three halogenated sesquiterpenoids gomerones A-C, 1-3, isolated from Laurencia majuscula are described. They are representative of a novel carbon skeleton, gomerane, biogenetically derived from cyclization of a β-chamigrene precursor. A biogenetic relationship with related sesquiterpenoids from lower terrestrial plants Hepaticae of genera Bazzania, Mannia, Mylia, and Rebouli as well as higher plants of genera Cupressus and Juniperus has been established.     

Parviflorenes B-F, novel cytotoxic unsymmetrical sesquiterpene-dimers with three backbone skeletons from Curcuma parviflora

Five novel natural products classified as dimeric sesquiterpenes, named parviflorenes B-F (2-6), possessing three types of novel backbone frameworks, have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae). The structures of 2-6 were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies, and the structure of 2 was further unambiguously established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 have an unsymmetrical bis-cadinane skeleton, while compound 3 is a dimer of cadinane and iso-cadinane, and compound 5 possesses another novel carbon framework consisting of two cadinanes with different bond-connection. These new compounds with novel carbon skeletons showed cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines.     

Naupliolide, a sesquiterpene lactone with a novel tetracyclic skeleton from Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus

The aerial parts of Nauplius graveolens subsp. odorus (Schousb) Wikl. afforded a novel sesquiterpene lactone (1) named naupliolide together with the known 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2 and asteriscunolides A-D 3a-d. The structure of compound 1 corresponds to a novel skeleton of 14,15-dimethyl-7,13-dioxotricyclic[6.4.0.0^9,11]dodeca-12,13-olide, and was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR. The coexistence of naupliolide 1 together with the structurally related sesquiterpene lactones asterisculolides A-D (3a-d) and 6,7,9,10-tetradehydroasteriscanolide 2, seems to indicate their biosynthetic relationship.     

Calyciphylline G, a novel alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Calyciphylline G (1), a novel Daphniphyllum alkaloid with an unprecedented fused-hexacyclic skeleton containing a 5-azatricyclo[6.2.1.0^1,5]undecane ring, has been isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum calycinum (Daphniphyllaceae), and the structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Hupermine A,a novel C16N2-type Lycopodium alkaloid from Huperzia phlegmaria

A novel C₁₆N₂-type Lycopodium alkaloid consisting of a quinolizidine with a 6-dimethylaminohexyl side chain, hupermine A (1), was isolated from the club moss of Huperzia phlegmaria, and the structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Salviskinone A, a diterpene with a new skeleton from Salvia przewalskii

A novel compound, named salviskinone A (1), was isolated from Salvia przewarskii. The compound has a rearranged carbon skeleton with a methyl unit at C-5 from abietane-type diterpene. Its structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HREIMS and 2DNMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) spectra.     

Parviflorene A, a novel cytotoxic unsymmetrical sesquiterpene-dimer constituent from Curcuma parviflora

A novel natural sesquiterpene-dimer-type compound, named parviflorene A (1), was isolated from the extract of a tropical Zingiberaceous plant, Curcuma parviflora, collected in Thailand, and its structure was elucidated by spectral data. Parviflorene A (1) possesses an unprecedented unsymmetrical bis-cadinane skeleton and exhibited cytotoxic activity against murine leukemia P388 and B16 melanoma cells.     

Rubiyunnanins A and B, two novel cyclic hexapeptides from Rubia yunnanensis

Two novel cyclic hexapeptides, named rubiyunnanins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the roots of Rubia yunnanensis (Franch.) Diels. Their structures were elucidated extensively by spectroscopic analysis and theoretical computation. Possible biosynthetic pathways for RAs, 1, and 2 were proposed. Compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicities against 11 cancer cell lines and inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS and IFN-γ-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.