Durumolides A-E, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial cembranolides from the soft coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigations on the acetone extract of the soft coral Lobophytum durum have afforded five new cembranoids with a trans-fused α-methylene-γ-lactone, durumolides A-E (1, 6, and 8-10), and five previously characterized cembrane-based diterpenoids (2-5 and 7). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the relative stereochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 3-5 and 8 were established by application of modified Mosher's method. The anti-inflammatory effects, antibacterial activities, and inhibition assay of HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) endonuclease activity of these isolated metabolites 1-10 were evaluated in vitro.     

Capnosane-type cembranoids from the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum with antibacterial effects

Nineteen new cembranoids with unusual capnosane skeleton named trocheliophols A–S (1–19) together with four known analogues were isolated from the Chinese soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR) analysis, in addition to the modified Mosher's method, CD and X-ray diffraction for the configuration assignments. The inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds against inflammation-related NF-κB and bacterial pathogens were evaluated. Compounds 8, 9 and 19 exhibited potent inhibitory effects against phytopathogens and human disease-related Gram positive and negative bacteria, while the preliminary structure–activity relationship is discussed.     

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).     

Pavidolides A-E, new cembranoids from the soft coral Sinularia pavida

Five new cembrane-based diterpenoids, namely pavidolides A-E (1-5) were isolated from the marine soft coral Sinularia pavida, together with sarcophytin and chatancin. The structures of new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis. Pavidolide B (2) possesses an unprecedented 6,5,7-tricarbocyclic nucleus, whereas pavidolide C (3) is characteristic of an unusual C-5 and C-9 conjuncted cembranoid. Pavidolides C and D showed moderate antifouling activity against the larval settlement of barnacle Balanus amphitrite, while pavidolides B and C exhibited inhibitory activity against the human leukemia cell line HL-60.     

Sinulariols A-S, 19-oxygenated cembranoids from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia rigida

Chemical examination of a Chinese soft coral Sinularia rigida resulted in the isolation and characterization of 19 new cembrane-type diterpenoids, designated as sinulariols A-S (1-19). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (2D NMR, IR, and MS) analysis in association with modified Mosher’s method. All compounds featured unusual 19-oxygenated functionalities, which are rarely found from cembranoid family. The biogenetic transformation of the isolated compounds is postulated. Part of the isolated cembranoids showed significant anti-fouling activity.     

Oxygenated cembranoids of the decaryiol type from the Indonesian soft coral Lobophytum sp.

Three novel cembrane diterpenoids, decaryiols B-D (5-7), characterized by a bicyclic skeleton of the decaryiol-type, have been isolated from the Indonesian soft coral Lobophytum sp., along with three known cembranoids. The stereostructures of these metabolites have been established through extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, application of the modified Mosher method, and chemical conversion. Cembranoids obtained from Lobophytum sp. (2-7) and six semisynthetic derivatives (9-14) prepared from decaryiol were tested for cell growth inhibitory activity against three different cell lines. O-Methyl decaryiol (10) exhibited a significant and selective activity against glioma cell lines.     

Structural,stereochemical, and bioactive studies of cembranoids from Chinese soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

A series of highly oxidative new cembranoids with diverse structural features such as a dienoate moiety (sarcophytonolides S – U, 1–3) or an α,β-unsaturated ε-lactone (sartrolides H – J, 4–6) were obtained from Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, along with known related analogues 7–13. It is an extremely challenging work to determine the absolute configurations of these metabolites. For compounds 1, 3 and 4, solution TDDFT calculation of ECD and specific rotation were applied in combination with conformational analysis and NMR data to determine their relative and absolute configurations, leading to the revision of relative configuration of 14. The absolute configurations of compounds 8–10 were determined by the solid-state TDDFT-ECD approach, and that of 8 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment with Cu Kα radiation. In the bioassays, compound 8 exhibited not only moderate protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity (IC₅₀?=?15.4?μM) but also moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain (MIC₅₀?=?250?μM).     

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.     

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory diterpenoids from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis

Seven new diterpenoids, namely, flexibilisolides C–G (1–5), flexibilisin C (6), and a novel 11,12-secoflexibillin (7), along with seven known compounds, 8–14, were isolated from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. Compounds 1, 8, and 11 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa and B16 cancer cell lines, and compound 10 was found to exhibit more potent cytotoxic activity against SK-Hep1 and B16 cancer cell lines. Moreover, compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11–14 could significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein and 1, 8, 11, and 14 could reduce the accumulation of COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.     

Novel steroids from the soft coral Nephthea chabrolii

Three new metabolites including two new steroids, chabrolosteroids A and B (1 and 2), and a novel spirosteroid chabrolosteroid C (3), were isolated from the organic extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Nephthea chabrolii. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the spectral data with those of related steroids. This is the first report of a steroid with a spiro-ring A, B system in natural products.     

Novel sesquiterpenoids from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides

Three sesquiterpenoids with unprecedented skeletons, paralemnanone (1), isoparalemnanone (2), and paralemnanol (3), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the structure of 1 was further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute stereochemistries of 1-3 were established by application of the Mosher’s method on 2.     

Eunicellin-based diterpenoids from the cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex

Eight new eunicellin-base diterpenoids, klysimplexins A-H (1-8), were isolated from a cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The structure of 1 was further confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and the application of modified Mosher's method. Metabolites 2 and 8 were found to be cytotoxic toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines.     

Bioactive pregnane-type steroids from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum

Nine new steroids, sclerosteroids A-I (1, 5, 6, 8-13), along with 18 known metabolites (2-4, 7, 14-27), were isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum. These structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties in steroidal glycosides 10-13 were determined by HPLC analysis of the o-tolylthiocarbamate derivatives of the liberated sugars from hydrolysis of these steroidal giycosides. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were measured in vitro.     

Cembrane diterpenoids from the Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia flexibilis

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis (Quoy and Gaimard), collected from the southern coast of Taiwan, led to the isolation of 10 new cembrenoid diterpenoids, the flexilarins A-J (1-10), along with 17 known compounds (11-27). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, IR). The structure of compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Compound 4 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against Hep2 tumor cells.     

Eight new diterpenoids from soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata resulted in the isolation of eight new diterpenes, cespihypotins E-L (1-8). The new metabolites comprise of six verticillene-type diterpenes, one cespitularane derivative, and one derivative with 14-membered lactone ring. The structures were determined through detailed spectroscopic analyses, especially high resolution ESIMS and 2D NMR techniques. The relative stereochemistry was deduced from NOESY spectrum and application of Mosher's ester technique. Immunomodulatory and antiviral activities of 1-8 were tested and evaluated. The biogenetic pathways for 1-8 were also proposed.     

Neolemnane and eremophilane sesquiterpenoids from the pacific soft coral lemnalia africana

Two new sesquiterpenoids of the unprecedented neoiemnane ring system, and one eremophflane-derived sesquiterpene diol have been isolated from the pacific soft-coral Lemnalia africana. The structure of the novel neolemnane compounds, 4 and 5, were confirmed by X-ray crystallography, and the diol, 6, has been described based upon spectral analysis and chemical modification.     

Pukalide,a furanocembranolide from the soft coral Sinularia abrupta

We have assigned structure 1a to pukalide, which is a constituent of an alcyonarian, on the basis of spectral data. Pukalide is diterpenoid with a cembrane skeleton, bearing butenolide, epoxide, isopropenyl, and an unprecedented α,α-disubstituted furan-β-carboxylate function.     

Perezoperezone and curcuperezone: bisabolane dimers from the soft coral Pseudopterogorgia rigida

Perezoperezone (1), curcuperezone (2), and diperezone (3), belonging to the rare class of bisabolane dimers, were isolated as minor constituents of the organic extract of the Caribbean soft coral, Pseudopterogorgia rigida. The structures of the new compounds 1 and 2 were established by detailed analyses of their NMR and MS data.     

Sinularectin, a new diterpenoid from the soft coral Sinularia erecta

A new norcembrane, designated sinularectin 3, was isolated from the Kenyan soft coral Sinularia erecta. Sinularectin is a chlorinated highly oxygenated norcembrane with an unprecedented functionalisation of the cembrane isopropyl group. The structure of sinularectin was elucidated by interpretation of the HRESMS results as well as 1D and 2D NMR spectra.