Seven new alkaloids from the roots of Stemona tuberosa

Seven new alkaloids, named as 1,9-epoxy-9a-hydroxystenine (1), tuberostemoline A (2), tuberostemoline B (3), tuberostemoninol C (4), oxotuberostemonine A (5), the mixture of bisdehydrotuberostemonine D (6), and bisdehydrotuberostemonine E (7), together with four known alkaloids neotuberostemonine (8), sessilifoline B (9), stemoxazolidinone F (10), and tuberostemoninol A (11), were isolated from the roots of Stemona tuberosa. The structures of 1–7 were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, and the relative configurations of 1–6 and 8 were further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic data. Compounds 8, 9 and the mixture of 6 & 7 exhibited potential acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities.     

Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

Polyketide derivatives of endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. isolated from the Chinese mangrove plant Rhizophora mucronata

A detailed chemical investigation of the minor metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. isolated from the Chinese mangrove Rhizophora mucronata afforded sixteen new compounds of polyketide origin, including pestalotiopyrones A-H (1-8), pestalotiopisorin A (10), pestalotiollides A-B (11-12), pestalotiopin A (13), and four amides pestalotiopamides A-D (14-17), along with three known compounds, nigrosporapyrone D (9), 2-anhydromevalonic acid (18), and p-hydroxy benzaldehyde (19). The structures of all compounds were unambiguously established from their spectroscopic data that included HR-ESIMS and 1- and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, and by comparison with the literature.     

A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.

Biological screening of a deep-water Great Australian Bight marine sponge, Axinella sp., detected inhibition against the neurodegenerative disease kinase targets CDK5/p25, CK1δ, and GSK3β, as well as significant levels of antibacterial activity. Chemical fractionation returned 18 secondary metabolites identified by detailed spectroscopic analysis as three new bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles, 14-O-sulfate massadine (1), 14-O-methyl massadine (2), and 3-O-methyl massadine chloride (3), together with the known metabolites massadine chloride (4), massadine (5), stylissadine B (6), axinellamines A-C (7-9), hymenin (10), stevensine (also known as odiline) (11), tauroacidin A (12), hymenidin (13), taurodispacamide A (14), oroidin (15), debromohymenialdisine (16), hymenialdisine (17), and aldisin (18). Armed with this focused natural product chemical diversity library, we re-established that 16 and 17 were nM kinase inhibitors, and determined that 3, 6, and 12-15 were sub μM antibacterials.     

New pyridoacridine alkaloids from the purple morph of the ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei

Two new pyridoacridine alkaloids, 13-didemethylaminocycloshermilamine D (1) and demethyldeoxyamphimedine (2), were isolated from the purple chromotype of the Western Mediterranean ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei. This morph also contained the known shermilamine B (3), kuanoniamine D (4), N-deacetylshermilamine B (5), N-deacetylkuanoniamine D (6), styelsamines C (7), and D (8). The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. A hypothetic biosynthetic pathway from the tetracyclic styelsamine D (8) was proposed for both compounds 1 and 2 and their antimicrobial potential was evaluated.     

Bioactive meroditerpenes and indole alkaloids from the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344), and the marine-derived fungi Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) and Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213)

Two new metabolites including a new aszonalenin analogue (1c) and a new meroditerpene (3) were isolated, together with aszonalenin (1a), acetylaszonalenin (1b), 13-oxofumitremorgin B (2), aszonapyrone A (4b) and helvolic acid, from the culture of the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344). While the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the diseased coral-derived fungus Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) furnished aszonapyrone B (4a), aszonapyrone A (4b), tryptoquivaline L and 3′-(4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl) spiro[1H-indole-3,5′-oxolane]-2,2′-dione, the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213) yielded a new analogue of chevalone C (5) and helvolic acid. The structures of the new compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HR-ESIMS. Compounds 1a–c, 2, 3, 4a, 4b and 5 were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on the MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma) cell lines by the protein binding dye SRB method.     

Absolute stereostructures of inoterpenes A-F from sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus

Six new lanostane-type triterpenes, inoterpenes A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), E (5), and F (6), were isolated from the sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus together with six known constituents. The chemical structures of new triterpenes 1-6 were characterized on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence including the application of the modified Mosher's method.     

Bis-spiro-azaphilones and azaphilones from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05

Four new dimeric spiro-azaplilones, cochliodones A-D (1-4), two new azaphliones, chaetoviridines E and F (5 and 6), a new epi-chaetoviridin A (7), together with five known compounds, chaetoviridin A (8), ergosterol (9), chaetochalasin A (10), 24(R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-22-diene-3β-ol (11), and ergosterol-β-d-glucoside (12) were isolated from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05. Structures and stereochemistry of the atropisomers 1-3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 5, 10, and 11 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, 6, 10, and 11 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, 5 and 6 also showed cytotoxicity against the KB, BC1, and NCI-H187 cell lines.     

Feroniellins A-C, novel cytotoxic furanocoumarins with highly oxygenated C10 moieties from Feroniella lucida

Three new furanocoumarins, named feroniellins A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the roots of Feroniella lucida. Compounds 1-3 are novel structures having an oxolane, oxane, and oxepane moiety. Their overall structures and configurations were determined by spectral and chemical methods. The cytotoxicities of 1-3 were evaluated against human KB and HeLa carcinoma cells.     

Bioactive meroterpenoids and alkaloids from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri

Five new meroterpenoids, chevalones A-D (1-4), aszonapyrone B (8), and a new sequiterpene alkaloid, eurochevalierine (5), together with four known compounds, sequiterpene (6), terpenoid pyrrolobenzoxazine named CJ-12662 (7), meroterpenoid, aszonapyrone A (9), and ergosterol were isolated from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The configurations of 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray analysis. The biosynthetic pathway of 1-3, 8, and 9 were proposed. Chemical transformation of aszonapyrone A (9) was also studied. Compounds 4, 5, and 7 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, and 7 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, compounds 2-7 showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.     

Structural and stereochemical investigations into bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from southern Australian marine sponges, Pseudoceratina spp.

Chemical investigation of a southern Australian sponge, Pseudoceratina sp., resulted in the isolation of twelve bromotyrosine-derived alkaloids, comprising four new metabolites, aplysamine-7 (1), (−)-purealin B (2), purealin C (3) and purealin D (4); two new spiroisoxazole enantiomers, (−)-purealidin R (5) and (−)-aerophobin-2 (6); five known metabolites (−)-pseudoceratinine A (7), (−)-aeroplysinin-1 (8), aplysamine-2 (9), purpuramine G (10) and purpuramine J (11); and an artifact 12 derived from ethanolysis of 5. Structures for 1-12 were assigned on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. A second southern Australian Pseudoceratina sp. afforded the first recorded account of a racemic bromotyrosine-derived spiroisoxazole, (±)-purealin (13b), together with the known achiral precursor purealidin A (15). A literature review of marine bromotyrosine-derived spiroisoxazoles reaffirmed the published dominance of (+)-spiroisoxazoles, acknowledging several accounts of (−)-spiroisoxazoles, while also revealing a wide range of chiroptical measurements suggestive of variable optical purity. The Pseudoceratina sp. metabolites 1-12, 13b and 15 were assessed for antibiotic properties, with the new metabolites 3 and 13b exhibiting broad spectrum activity against several Gram-positive bacteria.     

Cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme inhibitory withanolides from Withania somnifera leaves

Four novel withanolide glycosides and a withanolide have been isolated from the leaves of Withania somnifera. The structures of the novel compounds were elucidated as physagulin D (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 27-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl physagulin D (2), 27-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl viscosalactone B (3), 4,16-dihydroxy-5β, 6β-epoxyphysagulin D (4), and 4-(1-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylcyclo-propanone)-2,3-dihydrowithaferin A (5) on the basis of 1D-, 2D NMR and MS spectral data. In addition, seven known withanolides withaferin A (6), 2,3-dihydrowithaferin A (7), viscosalactone B (8), 27-desoxy-24,25-dihydrowithaferin A (9), sitoindoside IX (10), physagulin D (11), and withanoside IV (12) were isolated. These withanolides were assayed to determine their ability to inhibit cycloxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymes and lipid peroxidation. The withanolides tested, except compound 9, showed selective COX-2 enzyme inhibition ranging from 9 to 40% at 100 μg/ml. Compounds 4, 10 and 11 also inhibited lipid peroxidation by 40, 44 and 55%, respectively. The inhibition of COX-2 enzyme by withanolides is reported here for the first time.     

Cytotoxic dimeric sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma parviflora: isolation of three new parviflorenes and absolute stereochemistry of parviflorenes A, B, D, F, and G

Three novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids, named parviflorenes G-I (1-3), have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae), and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies. Absolute stereochemistry of parviflorene G (1) as well as previously isolated related compounds, parviflorenes A (4), B (5), D (6), and F (7), was revealed by CD spectral data and chemical means. Parviflorenes G (1) and I (3) were cytotoxic against HeLa cells, while parviflorenes A (4) and F (7) were cytotoxic against all tested tumor cell lines in the human cancer cell line panel assay.     

Aigialomycins and related polyketide metabolites from the mangrove fungus Aigialus parvus BCC 5311

Reinvestigation of the secondary metabolites from the marine mangrove fungus Aigialus parvus BCC 5311 led to the isolation of six new nonaketide metabolites, aigialomycins F (4) and G (5a/5b), 7′,8′-dihydroaigialospirol (7), 4′-deoxy-7′,8′-dihydroaigialospirol (8), and rearranged macrolides 9 and 10, along with six previously described compounds, hypothemycin (1), aigialomycins A (2) and B (3), aigialospirol (6), 4-O-demethylhypothemycin (11), and aigialone (12). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analyses of the NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data in combination with chemical means.     

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi

Trypanocidal constituents of Dracocephalum komarovi were investigated. Under guidance of the in vitro trypanocidal activity against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease, two new diterpenes, dracocequinones A (1) and B (2), and two known triterpene acids, ursonic acid and ursolic acid, were isolated as trypanocidal constituents, in addition to previously reported diterpenes, cyclocoulterone (4), komaroviquinone (5), dracocephalone A (6) and komarovispirone (7). Furthermore a new diterpene, komarovinone A (3), was isolated, together with four known terpenes. Among these compounds, komaroviquinone (5) showed the most potent activity with minimum lethal concentration of 0.4 μM. Structure elucidation of the new diterpenes 1-3 was described.     

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.     

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).     

New resveratrol oligomers in the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora

Five new resveratrol oligomers; pauciflorols A-C (1-3), isovaticanols B (6) and C (8), and three new oligostilbene glucosides; pauciflorosides A (11), B (13), C (14), were isolated from the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora (Dipterocarpaceae) together with known 17 resveratrol oligomers (4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 15-25) and bergenin (26). The structures of isolates were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The typical and characteristic spectral properties of some resveratrol oligomers were also discussed.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of chalcones bearing prenyl or geranyl groups from Angelica keiskei

Chalcones bearing prenyl or geranyl groups from Angelica keiskei, such as 4-hydroxyderricin (1a), xanthoangelol (1e), xanthoangelol F (1f), xanthoangelol H (2), deoxyxanthoangelol H (3), and deoxydihydroxanthoangelol H (4) and their derivatives were synthesized. From the evaluation of antibacterial activity of the synthesized chalcones, 1a, isobavachalcone (1b), 1e, 1f, bavachalcone (5a), and broussochalcone B (5b) were found to inhibit Gram-positive bacteria.     

Novel cyclopropyl diketones and 14-membered macrolides from the soil fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816

Two novel cyclopropyl diketones, hamavellone A (1) and B (2), and two new 14-membered nonaketide macrolactones, hamigeromycin A (3) and B (4), together with six known compounds, 89-250904-F1 (radicicol analogue A, 5), pseurotin A (6), emodin (7), ω-hydroxyemodin (8), and emodin bianthrones (9 and 10) were isolated from the soil fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816. The structures of the new compounds were defined by analysis of NMR and MS data. The absolute stereochemistry of 3 was addressed by chemical correlation to 5. Hamavellone B (2) exhibited antimalarial activity with an IC₅₀ of 5.2 μg/mL, whereas it also showed comparable cytotoxicity.