Daminin, a bioactive pyrrole alkaloid from the Mediterranean sponge Axinella damicornis

The isolation and characterization of the known pyrrole alkaloid agelongine (6) and of the new natural product daminin (7), the bromine-free analogue of 6, from a specimen of the marine sponge Axinella damicornis is described. Compound 7 showed significant neuroprotective properties. Moreover, for the supply of sufficient material for future medicinal investigations, a short total synthesis of 7 was developed.     

Spironaamidine, a new spiroquinone-containing alkaloid from the marine sponge Leucetta microraphis

Spironaamidine (1), a unique spiroquinone-containing alkaloid, was isolated from the marine sponge, Leucetta microraphis, along with two known imidazole alkaloids, naamidine H (2) and (9E)-clathridine 9-N-(2-sulfoethyl)imine (3). Spironaamidine (1) showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus.     

Pseudoceratinazole A: a novel bromotyrosine alkaloid from the Australian sponge Pseudoceratina sp.

Mass-directed fractionation based on a Trypanosoma brucei brucei active fraction from the Australian sponge Pseudoceratina sp. led to the isolation of a novel bromotyrosine alkaloid, pseudoceratinazole A (1). Compound 1 is the first dimeric bromotyrosine alkaloid containing an imidazole-bridging moiety.     

Synthesis of CD-ring structure of cortistatin A, an anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from marine sponge

Stereoselective synthesis of the CD-ring structure of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from Indonesian marine sponge, was achieved. The stereogenic tertiary carbon center bearing the isoquinoline moiety was constructed by 1,3-chiral transfer method using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of the chiral allylic alcohol 5. Subsequent intramolecular Michael-aldol reaction afforded the targeted trans-hydrindane skeleton with moderate stereoselectivity.     

Benzosceptrin C, a new dimeric bromopyrrole alkaloid from sponge Agelas sp.

A new dimeric bromopyrrole alkaloid possessing a benzocyclobutane ring, benzosceptrin C (1), has been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge of the genus Agelas (SS-956), and the structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated from spectroscopic data. Benzosceptrin C (1) showed antimicrobial activity.     

Plakoridine C, a novel piperidine alkaloid from an Okinawan marine sponge Plakortis sp.

A new piperidine alkaloid plakoridine C (1) has been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Plakortis species, and the structure was elucidated from spectroscopic data. Plakoridine C (1) is a new alkaloid possessing a piperidine ring connected to a β-keto-γ-lactone through a double bond.     

Topsentiasterol sulfates with novel iodinated and chlorinated side chains from the marine sponge Topsentia sp.

Three new marine polar steroids, the first chlorine-containing steroid sulfate (1), topsentiasterol sulfate F (2) and the first natural iodinated steroid (3) have been isolated from the marine sponge Topsentia sp. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated using NMR and HRESIMS as well as by chemical correlation of 1 with previously known topsentiasterol sulfate D. Compound 1 proved to be an effective inhibitor of endo-1,3-β-d-glucanase from the marine mollusc Spisula sachalinensis.     

New cytotoxic spongian diterpenes from the sponge Dysidea cf. arenaria

Seven new (1-7) and three known (8-10) spongian-class diterpenes have been isolated from the sponge Dysidea cf. arenaria collected in Okinawa. Compound 6 was also isolated from the nudibranch Chromodoris kuniei. The structures of the new entities were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Three of the new spongians (2, 6, and 7) showed cytotoxicity against NBT-T2 rat bladder epithelial cells.     

Myriastramides A-C, new modified cyclic peptides from the Philippines marine sponge Myriastra clavosa

Chemical investigation of the Philippines marine sponge Myriastra clavosa has resulted in the isolation of three new cyclic octapeptides, myriastramides A (1), B (2), and C (3). The structures of compounds 1-3 were assigned based on extensive NMR spectroscopic analyses and a series of degradation and derivatization studies.     

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).     

New polychlorinated pyrrolidinones from the Red Sea marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea

Chemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the Red Sea marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea led to the isolation of seven new polychlorinated derivatives 3-6 and 8-10 in addition to the known dysidamide 1, dysidamide B 2 and dysidamide C 7. Their structures were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compound 9 was determined by X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. Dysidamide 1 exhibited neurotoxic effects towards both mesencephalic and cortical murine neurones at 0.8 μg/ml.     

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.     

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.     

Halichonadins A-D, new sesquiterpenoids from a sponge Halichondria sp.

A new dimeric sesquiterpenoid with two eudesmane skeletons through a urea linkage, halichonadin A (1), as well as three new eudesmane sesquiterpenoids having a carbamate, an isonitrile, or an amino functionality, halichonadins B (2), C (3), and D (4), respectively, have been isolated from a marine sponge Halichondria sp., and the gross structures and relative stereochemistry of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical means.     

Novel pyrroloquinoline ribosides from the South African latrunculid sponge Strongylodesma aliwaliensis

Two novel pyrroloquinoline ribosides, N-1-β-D-ribofuranosyldamirone C (1), and N-1-β-D-ribofuranosylmakaluvamine I (2) were isolated from a new species of South African latrunculid sponge, Strongylodesma aliwaliensis. Standard spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the structures of 1 and 2. Molecular modeling studies and NOESY data of 1 and 2, in combination with chiral GC analysis of their derivatized acid hydrolysis products, established the β-D-configuration of the ribofuranose moieties.     

Seragamides A-F, new actin-targeting depsipeptides from the sponge Suberites japonicus Thiele

Six new depsipeptides, seragamides A-F (1-6), and a known geodiamolide I (7) have been isolated as cytotoxic metabolites from the Okinawan sponge Suberites japonicus. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformations. Seragamide A (1) promotes the polymerization of G-actin and stabilizes F-actin filaments.     

Monanchomycalins A and B, unusual guanidine alkaloids from the sponge Monanchora pulchra

New pentacyclic guanidine alkaloids, monanchomycalins A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the marine sponge, Monanchora pulchra and their structures elucidated using NMR, HRMALDI-TOF-MS, and HRESI MS, as well as by chemical transformations of 1. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against HL-60 human leukemia cells with IC₅₀ values of 120 and 140 nM, respectively.     

Halichonadins G-J, new sesquiterpenoids from a sponge Halichondria sp.

Three new dimeric sesquiterpenoids, halichonadins G-I (1-3), and one new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid possessing a 1-phenethyl urea moiety, halichonadin J (4), were isolated from a marine sponge Halichondria sp. Halichonadins G (1) and H (2) are homo-dimers of eudesmane sesquiterpenoid, linked through a methyl 2-{1-(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)ureido}acetate fragment and a 2-hydroxymalonamide fragment, respectively, while halichonadin I (3) is a new hetero-dimer of eudesmane sesquiterpenoid linked through a urea fragment. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Dactylospongiaquinone, a new meroterpenoid from the Australian marine sponge Dactylospongia n. sp.

Chemical investigation of the sponge Dactylospongia n. sp. collected near Mooloolaba, S.E. Queensland, has led to the isolation of dactylospongiaquinone (7) together with the known quinones (2-5). The new metabolite 7 possesses a different carbon framework from the known dictyoceratidaquinone (9) and is suggested to possess a cis-fused ring junction by extensive NOESY studies combined with molecular modelling calculations. The relative stereochemistry of the previously described cyclospongiaquinone-1 (3) and dehydrocyclospongiaquinone-1 (4) is also assigned on the basis of NOESY analyses. Full NMR spectroscopic assignments are provided for all compounds.     

New spirocyclic sesquiterpenes from the marine sponge Geodia exigua

Three new spirocyclic sesquiterpenes designated exiguamide (1), exicarbamate (2) and exigurin (3), together with (−)-10-epi-axisonitrile-3 (4), have been isolated from the marine sponge Geodia exigua. All four compounds possess the spiro[4.5]decene skeleton and their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. The structure of 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis and the absolute configuration was determined by applying the modified Mosher's method on its amine derivative. Exiguamide (1) inhibited cell fate specification during sea urchin embryogenesis at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.4 μM.