Chemical Evaluation,Antioxidant, Antiproliferative,Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Activities of Organic Extract and Semi-Purified Fractions of the Adriatic Sea Fan,Eunicella cavolini

Due to sedentary lifestyle and harsh environmental conditions, gorgonian coral extracts are recognized as a rich source of novel compounds with various biological activities, of interest to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The presented study aimed to perform chemical screening of organic extracts and semi-purified fractions obtained from the common Adriatic gorgonian, sea fan, Eunicella cavolini (Koch, 1887) and explore its abilities to exert different biological effects in vitro. Qualitative chemical evaluation revealed the presence of several classes of secondary metabolites extended with mass spectrometry analysis and tentative dereplication by using Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking online platform (GNPS). Furthermore, fractions F4 and F3 showed the highest phenolic (3.28 ± 0.04 mg GAE/g sample) and carotene (23.11 ± 2.48 mg β-CA/g sample) content, respectively. The fraction F3 inhibited 50% of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazolin-6-yl) sulfonic acid) radicals at the concentrations of 767.09 ± 11.57 and 157.16 ± 10.83 µg/mL, respectively. The highest anti-inflammatory potential was exhibited by F2 (IC₅₀ = 198.70 ± 28.77 µg/mL) regarding the inhibition of albumin denaturation and F1 (IC₅₀ = 254.49 ± 49.17 µg/mL) in terms of soybean lipoxygenase inhibition. In addition, the most pronounced antiproliferative effects were observed for all samples (IC₅₀ ranging from 0.82 ± 0.14–231.18 ± 46.13 µg/mL) against several carcinoma cell lines, but also towards non-transformed human fibroblasts pointing to a generally cytotoxic effect. In addition, the antibacterial activity was tested by broth microdilution assay against three human pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The latter was the most affected by fractions F2 and F3. Finally, further purification, isolation and characterization of pure compounds from the most active fractions are under investigation.     

In Vitro Coral Biomineralization under Relevant Aragonite Supersaturation Conditions

The biomineralization of corals occurs under conditions of high and low supersaturation with respect to aragonite, which corresponds to day- or night-time periods of their growth, respectively. Here, in vitro precipitation of aragonite in artificial seawater was investigated at a high supersaturation, allowing spontaneous nucleation and growth, as well as at low supersaturation conditions, which allowed only the crystal growth on the deliberately introduced aragonite seeds. In either chemical systems, soluble organic matrix (SOM) extracted from Balanophyllia europaea (light sensitive) or Leptopsammia pruvoti (light insensitive) was added. The analyses of the kinetic and thermodynamic data of aragonite precipitation and microscopic observations showed that, at high supersaturation, the SOMs increased the induction time, did not affect the growth rate and were incorporated within aggregates of nanoparticles. At low supersaturation, the SOMs affected the aggregation of overgrowing crystalline units and did not substantially change the growth rate. On the basis of the obtained results we can infer that at high supersaturation conditions the formation of nanoparticles, which is typically observed in the skeleton's early mineralization zone may occur, whereas at low supersaturation the overgrowth on prismatic seeds observed in the skeleton fiber zone is a predominant process. In conclusion, this research brings insight on coral skeletogenesis bridging physicochemical (supersaturation) and biological (role of SOM) models of coral biomineralization and provides a source of inspiration for the precipitation of composite materials under different conditions of supersaturation.     

Investigation of nanoorganized biomaterials of marine origin

Naturally occurring nanoorganized biomaterials of marine origin provide an abundant source of novel bone and cartilage replacement materials, and enable the development of novel biomimetic composites. The design of novel biomaterial relies on an understanding of the organic matrices and templating structures. The aim of the present study was to investigate the composition and the properties of skeletal structures of marine sponge (Verongula gigantea) and octocorals (Isidella sp.) in particular by using instrumental analytical (i.e. electron transmission and scanning microscopic methods, vibrational spectroscopies) methods. Modern gentle demineralization techniques were used. It was shown, that the demosponge V. gigantea has much potential as a biomaterial due to the multilayered structure of its rigid fibrous skeletons. The results of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy unambiguously showed that all specimens of the investigated sponge have α-chitin as the main skeletal component. Nano-crystalline aragonite was isolated and identified in V. gigantea, a sponge usually described as lacking a mineral skeleton. Bamboo corals of the Isididae family were additionally investigated. An inorganic component within the deep-sea octocoral Isidella sp. could be clearly identified as calcite by using Raman spectroscopy. The organic part was identified as a nanoorganized fibrillar proteinaceous matrix with acidic properties.     

Asterolaurins G – J,New Xenicane Diterpenoids from the Taiwanese Soft Coral Asterospicularia laurae

Four new xenicane diterpenoids, asterolaurins G–J ( 1 – 4 , resp.) have been isolated from the Taiwanese soft coral Asterospicularia laurae. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (UV, CD, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMBC, and NOESY). The cytotoxic activities of all compounds were evaluated.     

New Cembrane Diterpenes from Taiwanese Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis

A chemical investigation of the Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia flexibilis has resulted in the isolation of three new cembrane diterpenes designated sinuladiterpenes G–I ( 1 – 3 , resp.). The structures of 1 – 3 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, especially 2D‐NMR and HR‐ESI‐MS.     

Nephthea属软珊瑚中19-羟基甾醇Nephalsterol A及B的结构测定

从南海软珊瑚Nephthea albida及N.tiexieral verseveldt中分离到2个含19-羟基的多羟基甾醇Nephalsterol A(1)及 B(2),通过波谱方法测定了1及2的结构依次为:24-亚甲基-胆甾-3β,5α,6β,19-四醇及24-亚甲基-胆甾-5-烯-3β,7β,19-三醇。     

Chemical Diversity and Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Indonesian Marine Invertebrates

Marine invertebrates have been reported to be an excellent resource of many novel bioactive compounds. Studies reported that Indonesia has remarkable yet underexplored marine natural products, with a high chemical diversity and a broad spectrum of biological activities. This review discusses recent updates on the exploration of marine natural products from Indonesian marine invertebrates (i.e., sponges, tunicates, and soft corals) throughout 2007–2020. This paper summarizes the structural diversity and biological function of the bioactive compounds isolated from Indonesian marine invertebrates as antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiviral, while also presenting the opportunity for further investigation of novel compounds derived from Indonesian marine invertebrates.     

Xenimanadins A-D, a family of xenicane diterpenoids from the Indonesian soft coral Xenia sp.

Four novel xenicane diterpenoids, xenimanadins A-D (1-4), characterized by the unusual 2,6-dimethoxytetrahydropyran functionality, have been isolated from the Indonesian soft coral Xenia sp., together with three known xeniolides. The stereostructure of these metabolites has been established through extensive interpretation of NMR data and application of the modified Mosher method. Xenimanadins were tested against tumor cell lines, revealing details about the cytotoxic potential of xenicane diterpenoids.     

Verticillane and Norverticillane Diterpenoids from the Formosan Soft Coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata

Five new diterpenes, cespihypotins W–Z ( 1 – 4 , resp.) and cespihypotone ( 5 ) have been isolated from the AcOEt‐soluble fraction of the Formosan soft coral Cespitularia hypotentaculata. Two of them having the norverticillane skeleton, i.e., 1 and 2 , and the other three, 3 – 5 , possessing a verticillane skeleton. The structures were established as (+)‐(1βH,7E)‐6β,11β‐dihydroxynorverticilla‐4(18),7‐diene‐10,12‐dione ( 1 ), (+)‐(1βH,7E)‐6β‐acetoxy‐11β‐hydroxynorverticilla‐4(18),7‐diene‐10,12‐dione ( 2 ), (?)‐(1βH,7E)‐6β‐acetoxyverticilla‐4(18),7,11‐triene‐10,12‐γ‐lactone ( 3 ), (+)‐(1βH,7E)‐6β‐acetoxy‐10‐hydroxyverticilla‐4(18),7,11‐triene‐10,12‐γ‐lactone ( 4 ), and (+)‐(1βH,3Z)‐10β‐hydroxy‐6‐oxoverticilla‐3,11‐diene‐10,12‐γ‐lactone ( 5 ), respectively, on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic analyses.