Halichonic acid,a new rearranged bisabolene-type sesquiterpene from a marine sponge Halichondria sp.

A new compound, halichonic acid (1), was isolated from a marine sponge Halichondria sp., together with (6R,7S)-7-amino-7,8-dihydro-α-bisabolene (2). The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and ECD spectrum calculation to be a rearranged bisabolene-type sesquiterpene having a 3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonene moiety. Compound 2 was cytotoxic against HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ value of 50?μM, whereas 1 did not show cytotoxicity even at 50?μM. It is possible that 1 is biosynthesized from farnesyl pyrophosphate and glycine, with rearrangement.     

Cylindradines A and B: novel bromopyrrole alkaloids from the marine sponge Axinella cylindratus

The novel alkaloids cylindradines A and B were isolated from Axinella cylindratus, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Stereochemistries of these compounds were determined by X-ray analysis. Cylindradines showed moderate inhibitory activity against the murine leukemia cell line P388.     

Manzamine B and C,two novel alkaloids from the sponge haliclona sp.

The title compounds were isolated from a marine sponge collected off Okinawa. Their structures were determined by X-ray and shown to be 1-β-carbolines. Manzamine C was the 2-ethyl-N-azacycloundec-6-ene derivative, whereas manzamine B was more complex being the epoxy isomer of the free base of dihydromanzamine A.     

Cortistatins A, B, C, and D, anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloids, from the marine sponge Corticium simplex

Four novel steroidal alkaloids named cortistatins A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4) consisting of a 9(10-19)-abeo-androstane and isoquinoline skeleton have been isolated from the marine sponge Corticium simplex. The absolute stereostructures of 1-4 were elucidated by detailed 2D NMR, CD, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. Cortistatins A-D inhibited proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with high selectivity. Among the four substances, cortistatin A (1) showed the strongest anti-proliferative activity (IC50 = 0.0018 muM) against HUVECs, in which the selective index was more than 3000-fold in comparison with that of normal fibroblast or several tumor cell lines.     

A new cytotoxic cholesterol sulfate from marine sponge Halichondria rugosa

A new steroid, 24xi,25-dimethyl-3alpha-hydroxyl-cholest-5-ene-2beta-ol sodium sulfate (1), together with a known steroid, 24xi,25-dimethyl-cholest-5-ene-2beta,3alpha-diol disodium sulfate (2), was isolated from the ethanol extract of marine sponge Halichondria rugosa. Their structures were elucidated on the base of spectroscopic analysis. Both compounds showed cytotoxicity to four human cancer cell lines (BEL-7402, HT-29, SPC-A1 and U-251) with IC(50) values between 6.5 and 23.1 microM.     

Hyrtioseragamines A and B, new alkaloids from the sponge Hyrtios species

Two novel alkaloids with a furo[2,3-b]pyrazin-2(1H)-one moiety and a guanidino group, hyrtioseragamines A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Hyrtios species. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical conversions. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first natural products possessing a furo[2,3-b]pyrazine-related moiety.     

Cytotoxic alkaloids from the marine sponge Thorectandra sp

Three beta-carboline alkaloids, Compound 1, 1-deoxysecofascaplysin A (2), and fascaplysin (3), were isolated from the aqueous and organic extracts of the marine sponge Thorectandra sp. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of spectral data. Compound 1 inhibited the growth of MCF-7 (breast) with an IC50 of 5.9 microg/mL while Compound 2 inhibited the growth of MCF-7 as well as OVCAR-3 (ovarian) human tumor cell lines with IC50s of 1.5 and 2.2 microg/mL, respectively.     

Dysidavarones A-D, new sesquiterpene quinones from the marine sponge Dysidea avara

Dysidavarones A-D (1-4), four new sesquiterpene quinones possessing the unprecedented "dysidavarane" carbon skeleton, were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Dysidea avara. The structures were established by spectroscopic methods, and the absolute configurations were determined using quantum mechanical calculation of the electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectrum and exciton chirality CD method. Their cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines and PTP1B inhibitory activity were also evaluated.     

Ecionines A and B, two new cytotoxic pyridoacridine alkaloids from the Australian marine sponge, Ecionemia geodides

Chemical investigations of the Australian marine sponge Ecionemia geodides resulted in the isolation of two new pyridoacridine alkaloids, ecionines A (1) and B (2), along with the previously isolated marine natural products, biemnadin (3) and meridine (4). Compounds 1 and 2 both contain an imine moiety, which is rare for the pyridoacridine structure class. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and MS data analyses. All compounds were tested against a panel of human bladder cancer cell lines, the increasingly metastatic TSU-Pr1 series (TSU-Pr1, TSU-Pr1-B1 and TSU-Pr1-B2) and the superficial bladder cancer cell line 5637. Ecionine A (1) displayed cytotoxicity against all cell lines, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 3 to 7 μM. This is the first report of chemistry from the sponge genus Ecionemia.     

Lembehsterols A and B,novel sulfated sterols inhibiting thymidine phosphorylase,from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata

Lembehsterols A (1) and B (2), two novel sulfated sterols, were isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia strongylata. Both sterols showed inhibitory activity against thymidine phosphorylase, which is an enzyme related to angiogenesis in solid tumors. The structures of these sulfated sterols were established on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.     

Halichondria sulfonic acid, a new HIV-1 inhibitory guanidino-sulfonic acid, and halistanol sulfate isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria rugosa Ridley & Dendy

A new sulfur-containing guanidino derivative, halichondria sulfonic acid (1) showing anti-HIV-1 activity, and halistanol trisulfate (2) with anti-tumor activity have been isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria rugosa Ridley & Dendy collected in the Chinese Southern Sea. The structure of 1 was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic and crystal data.     

Bilosespens A and B: two novel cytotoxic sesterpenes from the marine sponge Dysidea cinerea

[formula: see text] Two novel sesterpenes, bilosespens A and B (1 and 2) were isolated from the Red Sea sponge Dysidea cinerea collected in the Dahlak archipelago, Eritrea. The structure of the mixture of the two inseparable compounds was established by spectroscopic analysis, mainly by 1D and 2D NMR measurements. The mixture of bilosespens A and B is cytotoxic to a few human cancer cells.     

Latonduines A and B,new alkaloids isolated from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri: structure elucidation,synthesis, and biogenetic implications

[structure: see text] Latonduines A (6) and B (7), two new alkaloids with unprecedented heterocyclic skeletons, have been isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge Stylissa carteri. The structures of the latonduines were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and confirmed by the total synthesis of latonduine A (6). It is proposed that ornithine is the biogenetic precursor to the aminopyrimidine fragment of the latonduines.     

Total syntheses of makaluvamines A, B, C, D and E, cytotoxic pyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids isolated from marine sponge bearing inhibitory activities against topoisomerase II

Syntheses of makaluvamines A, B, C, D and E (1 – 5), new members of tetrahydropyrroloiminoquinone alkaloids, have been successfully carried out. Particularly, olefin introduction for makaluvamines B and E could be achieved by Pd - mediated and E₂ type methodologies.     

Axiplyns A-E, new sesquiterpene isothiocyanates from the marine sponge Axinyssa aplysinoides

Five new isothiocyanate sesquiterpenes, designated axiplyns A-E (1-5) have been isolated, together with two known isothiocyanate sesquiterpenes (6, 7), from the sponge Axinyssa aplysinoides collected at Misali Island, Tanzania. Axiplyns 4 and 5 embody a new indane sesquiterpene skeleton, and compounds 1, 2, and 5 contain unprecedented ring systems, namely a 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and a 2-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Axiplyns A, B, and C are potent brine shrimp toxins with LD₅₀ values between 1.5 and 1.8 μg/mL.     

Novel sulfated sesterterpene alkaloids from the marine sponge Fasciospongia sp

Fasciospongines A (1) and B (2), two unusual sulfated sesterterpene alkaloids of an unprecedented structural class, have been isolated from the marine sponge Fasciospongia sp. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 displayed potent inhibitory activity to Streptomyces 85E in the hypha formation inhibition (HFI) bioassay.     

Ceratamines A and B, antimitotic heterocyclic alkaloids isolated from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp. collected in Papua New Guinea

[structure: see text] Two novel antimitotic heterocyclic alkaloids, ceratamines A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp., collected in Papua New Guinea. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data.     

New bromopyrrole alkaloids from the marine sponge Agelas sp.

Chemical investigation of the marine sponge Agelas sp. collected from the South China Sea resulted in the isolation of four new dimeric bromopyrrole alkaloids, including hexazosceptrin (1) with a rare cyclohexane-fused-cyclobutane skeleton, agelestes A and B (2–3), the sceptrin analogues without any aminoimidazole substitution, and (9S, 10R, 9′S, 10′R)-nakamuric acid (4), of which the absolute configuration was confirmed for the first time. The structure elucidation and absolute configuration assignments were unambiguously determined via extensive spectroscopic analyses and the comparison of experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroic spectra. Compounds 1 and 4 exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity.     

Simplextones A and B, unusual polyketides from the marine sponge Plakortis simplex

Two novel polyketides, simplextones A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the sponge Plakortis simplex. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods. The absolute configurations were assigned by modified Mosher's method, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and quantum mechanical calculation of the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum. Compounds 1 and 2 featured an unprecedented polyketide skeleton via the connection of a single carbon-carbon bond to form a cyclopentane. These compounds also exhibited moderate cytotoxicity.     

Flueggenines A and B, two novel C,C-linked dimeric indolizidine alkaloids from Flueggea virosa

[structure: see text] Two unprecedented C,C-linked dimeric indolizidine alkaloids, flueggenines A (1) and B (2), as well as their biosynthetic precursor (-)-norsecurinine, were isolated from the roots of Flueggea virosa. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR and CD spectral analyses, and supported by their unique biosynthetic pathway as proposed. Both 1 and 2 were tested against two tumor cell lines, and alkaloid 1 showed weak activity against the P-388 cell line.