Diterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and a C15-acetogenin from the marine red alga Laurencia mariannensis

In addition to 10 known compounds (7- 16), one new brominated diterpene, 10-hydroxykahukuene B (1), two new sesquiterpenes, 9-deoxyelatol (2) and isodactyloxene A (3), one new brominated C 15-acetogenin, laurenmariallene (4), and two new naturally occurring halogenated sesquiterpenes (5 and 6) that were previously obtained as intermediates in a biomimetic synthetic study of rhodolaureol and rhodolauradiol have been isolated and identified from the organic extract of the marine red alga Laurencia mariannensis. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of new compounds 1-4 were evaluated.     

Brominated arginine-derived alkaloids from the red sea sponge Suberea mollis

Investigation of a new collection of the Red Sea sponge Suberea mollis afforded two new brominated arginine-derived alkaloids, subereamines A (1) and B (2), a new brominated phenolic compound, subereaphenol D (3), and the known compounds dichloroverongiaquinol (4), aerothionin (5), and purealdin L (6). The structures of the isolated compounds were assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra and HRFABMS data. The absolute configurations of subereamines A (1) and B (2) were determined by acid hydrolysis followed by chiral-phase LC-MS. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds have been evaluated. Dichloroverongiaquinol and subereaphenol D displayed significant antimicrobial activity. Using the DPPH TLC autographic rapid screen for free radical scavenging effects, subereaphenol D displayed a significant antioxidant effect. In addition, the cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were investigated.     

Investigation of brominated tryptophan alkaloids from two thorectidae sponges: Thorectandra and Smenospongia

Chemical investigation of an NCI-DTP collection of Thorectandra sp. and a UCSC collection of Smenospongia sp. yielded six new brominated tryptophan derivatives: 6-bromo-1'-hydroxy-1',8-dihydroaplysinopsin (4), 6-bromo-1'-methoxy-1',8-dihydroaplysinopsin (5), 6-bromo-1'-ethoxy-1',8-dihydroaplysinopsin (6), (-)-5-bromo-N,N-dimethyltryptophan (7), (+)-5-bromohypaphorine (8), and 6-bromo-1H-indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (11). Additionally, the known compounds aplysinopsin (1), 1',8-dihydroaplysinopsin (2), 6-bromo-1',8-dihydroaplysinopsin (3), (1H-indole-3-yl)acetic acid (9), and (6-bromo-1H-indol-3-yl)acetic acid methyl ester (10) were also encountered. The structures of 4-8 and 11 were confirmed on the basis of analysis of (1)H and (13)C (1D and 2D) NMR data as well as comparison to known compounds. Compounds 1, 3-8, 10, and 11 were found to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis with either weak or moderate MICs.     

Brominated labdane-type diterpenoids from an Okinawan Laurencia sp

From an unidentified species of Laurencia collected from Okinawan waters two novel brominated metabolites, 1 and 2, along with known halogenated compounds, 2,10-dibromo-3-chloro-alpha-chamigrene (3) and microcladallene A (4), were isolated and identified. The structures of these new compounds were established as ent-labdane-type bromoditerpenes, (1S,3R,5S,6S,8S,9S,10R,13R)-1-acetoxy-3-bromo-6-hydroxy-8,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene (1) and (3R,5S,6S,8S,9S,10R,13R)-3-bromo-6-hydroxy-8,13-epoxylabd-14-en-1-one (2), by interpretation of their spectroscopic data as well as by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Highly brominated mono- and bis-phenols from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula with radical-scavenging activity

Four new highly brominated and fully substituted mono- and bis-phenols, 1-(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (1), 1,2-bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethane (2), 6-(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-2,5-dibromo-3,4-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (3), and 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl sulfone (4), were characterized from the marine red alga Symphyocladia latiuscula. In addition, five known bromophenols, bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)methane (5), bis(2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl) ether (6), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl methyl ether (7), 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxymethylbenzene (8), and 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (9), were also isolated and identified. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR as well as by low- and high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis. Structurally, all of these compounds are highly brominated and fully substituted, and contain one or two 2,3,6-tribromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl unit(s) in each of the molecules. In addition, compound 4 possesses a unique sulfone structural feature. Each of the isolated compounds was evaluated for alpha,alpha-diphenyl-beta-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and all were found to be potent, with IC50 values ranging from 8.1 to 24.7 microM, compared to the known positive control butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), with an IC50 of 81.8 microM.     

Bioactive brominated metabolites from the red sea sponge Suberea mollis

Reinvestigation of the Red Sea sponge Suberea mollis afforded two new bromotyrosine-derived alkaloids, subereamollines A (1) and B (2), two new brominated phenolic compounds, subereaphenols B (7) and C (9), and the known compounds aerothionin (3), homoaerothionin (4), 11,19-dideoxyfistularin-3 (5), aeroplysinin-1 (6), and aeroplysinin-2 (8). The structure determination of the isolated compounds was assigned using one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra and HRFABMS data. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds have been evaluated. Aeroplysinin-1 displayed significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, P. aerugenosa, and K. pneumoniae. The isolated compounds were examined for their antioxidant activity using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) solution-based chemical assay. Among the tested compounds, only subereaphenols B and C displayed a significant effect.     

Comparison of fascaplysin and related alkaloids: a study of structures, cytotoxicities, and sources

The fascaplysin class of compounds have been further investigated from six organisms consisting of four sponge collections (Fascaplysinopsis reticulata) and two tunicate collections (Didemnum sp.). This work is an extension of an earlier communication and reports the isolation of 12 new fascaplysin derivatives: 10-bromofascaplysin (7), 3,10-dibromofascaplysin (8), homofascaplysate A (9), homofascaplysin B-1 (11), 3-bromohomofascaplysins B (12), B-1 (13), and C (15), 7,14-dibromoreticulatine (17), reticulatol (20), 14-bromoreticulatol (21), and 3-bromosecofascaplysins A (22) and B (23), along with known compounds: fascaplysin (1), reticulatine (4), 3-bromofascaplysin (6), and homofascaplysin C (14). Selected compounds were screened in a cell-based cytotoxicity assay with compounds 1, 6, and fascaplysin A (24) also screened in the NCI 60 cell line panel. A biogenetic pathway for the brominated fascaplysins and brominated related alkaloids is proposed and discussed.     

Acetophenone derivatives from Acronychia pedunculata

Chemical investigation on the stem and root bark of Acronychia pedunculata has resulted in the isolation of five new acetophenones, namely, acronyculatins A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), and E (5). The structures of these metabolites were established on the basis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data and by CD spectroscopy. The antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of these five metabolites and acrovestone (6) were evaluated. Among these compounds, 6 showed marginal antioxidant and antityrosinase activities.     

Highly polar spiroisoxazolines from the sponge Aplysina fulva

Two new highly polar brominated spiroisoxazolines, araplysillin N9-sulfamate (1) and an N-[5S,10R)-7,9-dibromo-10-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-oxa-2-azaspiro[4.5]deca-2,6,8-triene-3-carboxy]-4-aminobutanoic acid (2), were isolated from a sample of Aplysina fulva collected in the Florida Keys. The absolute stereostructures of the new compounds were determined from analysis of MS, 1H and 13C NMR, and CD spectroscopy. Compound 2 provides a structural clue that may unify the biosynthesis of brominated spiroisoxazolines.     

Bioactive brominated diterpenes from the marine red alga Jania Rubens (L.) Lamx

Seven brominated diterpenes of the parguerene and isoparguerene series were isolated for the first time from the red alga Jania rubens (L.) Lamx., collected from the Red Sea coast at Hurghada, Egypt. The diterpenes were identified as isoparguerol (1), isoparguerol-16-acetate (2), isoparguerol-7,16-diacetate (3), parguerol-16-acetate (4), parguerol-7,16-diacetate (5), deoxyparguerol (6) and deoxyparguerol-7-acetate (7).The isolated diterpenes had a marked antitumour activity. Isoparguerol derivatives were slightly more effective than parguerol derivatives. Moreover, the data implied that the cytotoxicity of these compounds were dependent on the number of acetoxy groups. Also, anthelmintic activities of the isolated compounds on earthworms (Allolobophora caliginosa) were studied.     

Bromophenols coupled with nucleoside bases and brominated tetrahydroisoquinolines from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides

Three new bromophenols C-N coupled with nucleoside base derivatives (1-3) and three new brominated 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (5-7), together with a new brominated tyrosine derivative (4), have been isolated from polar fractions of an ethanolic extract of the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. By spectroscopic and chemical methods including HRMS and 2D NMR data, their structures were determined as 7-[3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl]-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione (1), 7-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione (2), 9-[3-bromo-2-(2,3-dibromo-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl)-4,5-dihydroxybenzyl]adenine (3), (-)-8S-(3-bromo-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy)phenylalanine (4), (-)-3S-8-bromo-6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (5), methyl (-)-3S-8-bromo-6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylate (6), and methyl (-)-3S-6-bromo-8-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylate (7). Compounds 5-7 were semisynthesized by using 4 as the starting material.     

Phytochemical investigation of Turnera diffusa

A phytochemical investigation of Turnera diffusa afforded 35 compounds, comprised of flavonoids, terpenoids, saccharides, phenolics, and cyanogenic derivatives, including five new compounds (1-5) and a new natural product (6). These compounds were characterized as luteolin 8-C-E-propenoic acid (1), luteolin 8-C-beta-[6-deoxy-2-O-(alpha-l-rhamnopyranosyl)-xylo-hexopyranos-3-uloside] (2), apigenin 7-O-(6' '-O-p-Z-coumaroyl-beta-d-glucopyranoside) (3), apigenin 7-O-(4' '-O-p-Z-coumaroylglucoside) (4), syringetin 3-O-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranoside] (5), and laricitin 3-O-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranoside] (6). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

Lepadins F-H, new cis-decahydroquinoline alkaloids from the Australian ascidian Aplidium tabascum

Chemical investigation of a Great Barrier Reef ascidian, Aplidium tabascum, has resulted in the isolation of three new cis-decahydroquinoline alkaloids, lepadins F-H (4-6). The three new compounds differ from the previously isolated lepadins A-C (1-3) in that they contain a fully saturated 5-hydroxyoctyl side chain attached at C-5, an unsaturated eight-carbon ester moiety attached to C-3, and opposite stereochemistry at C-5 and C-3. Lepadins G (5) and H (6) are epimers at C-2. NMR and molecular modeling studies indicated that the three new compounds adopt a chair-chair conformation in which the nitrogen equatorially substitutes the cyclohexyl ring. This contrasts with lepadins A-C (1-3), which adopt a chair-chair conformation in which the nitrogen axially substitutes the cyclohexyl ring.     

Antifouling activity of brominated cyclopeptides from the marine sponge Geodia barretti

In this work, we show the potent antifouling effects of two compounds, barettin (cyclo[(6-bromo-8-entryptophan)arginine]) (1), isolated as a Z/E mixture (87/13), and 8,9-dihydrobarettin (cyclo[(6-bromotryptophan)arginine]) (2), isolated from the marine sponge Geodia barretti. The compounds were isolated guided by their ability to inhibit the settlement of cyprid larvae of the barnacle Balanusimprovisus, and their structures were determined by means of mass spectrometry, NMR, and quantitative amino acid analysis. The activities of these brominated diketopiperazine-like cyclic dipeptides are in the range of antifouling agents in use today, as shown by their EC(50) values of 0.9 and 7.9 microM, respectively. However, contrary to today's antifouling agents, the effects of barettin and 8,9-dihydrobarettin are nontoxic and reversible. A small set of synthetic analogues, including l-arginine, l-tryptophan, 5-bromo-d,l-tryptophan, 6-bromo-d,l-tryptophan, and 6-fluoro-d,l-tryptophan, were tested for possible structure-activity relationships. None of these compounds showed any effect at a concentration of 10 microM. We hypothesize that the isolated compounds are part of the sponge's chemical defense to deter fouling organisms. This theory is supported by the fact that barettin is found in water exposed to living specimens of G. barretti in concentrations that completely inhibit barnacles from settling.     

New Bis(Indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class from the sponge spongosorites genitrix

Four bis(indole) alkaloids of the topsentin class, including two new brominated compounds (1 and 2), have been isolated from the sponge Spongosorites genitrix collected from Jaeju Island, Korea. The structures of the novel compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. These compounds exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against a human leukemia cell-line (K-562).     

Bioactive secondary metabolites from Boesenbergia pandurata of Myanmar and their preferential cytotoxicity against human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cell line in nutrient-deprived medium

The chloroform extract of rhizomes of Boesenbergia pandurata demonstrated marked preferential cytotoxicity against human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells in nutrient-deprived medium. Bioactivity-directed investigation of this extract yielded four new secondary metabolites, geranyl-2,4-dihydroxy-6-phenethylbenzoate ( 1), 2',4'-dihydroxy-3'-(1'-geranyl)-6'-methoxychalcone ( 2), (1' R,2' S,6' R)-2-hydroxyisopanduratin A ( 3), and (2 R)-8-geranylpinostrobin ( 4), and twenty known compounds ( 5- 24). Among the known compounds, (2 S)-6-geranylpinostrobin ( 5), (+/-)-6-methoxypanduratin A ( 6), and (2 S)-7,8-dihydro-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4'-methyl-3'-pentenyl)-8-phenyl-2 H,6 H-benzo[1,2- b:5,4- b']dipyran-6-one ( 7) were isolated for the first time from a natural source. The structures of these compounds were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic techniques including CD measurements. All the isolated compounds showed varying degrees of in vitro preferential cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cells. Nicolaioidesin B ( 11) and panduratin A ( 17) were most potent, each showing a PC 100 at 2.5 microM.     

Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Eupatorium kiirunense, a coastal plant of Taiwan

Phytochemical investigation of Eupatorium kiirunense has resulted in the isolation of eight new sesquiterpene lactones, constituted by five germacranolides, eupakirunsins A-E (1-5), and three heliangolides, eupaheliangolide A (6), 15-acetoxyheliangin (7), and 3-epi-heliangin (8), in addition to the known heliangin (9) and 8,10-epoxy-9-acetoxythymol angelate (10). The structures of the new compounds were established through detailed analysis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 6, 8, and 9 exhibited cytotoxicity against human oral epidermoid (KB), cervical epitheloid (Hela), and liver (hepa59T/VGH) carcinoma cells.     

Anti-inflammatory cembranoids from the soft corals Sinularia querciformis and Sinularia granosa

Four new cembranoids, querciformolides A-D (1-4), along with two known cembranoids, 7 and 8, have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia querciformis. Furthermore, chemical investigation of Sinularia granosa has afforded three new cembranoids, querciformolide B (2) and granosolides A (5) and B (6). The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and that of 2 was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by a modified Mosher's method. Among these metabolites, 2-6 are rarely found cembranoids possessing a tetrahydrofuran moiety with a 4,7-ether linkage; in addition, 1 is the first epsilon-lactone cembrane found that possesses a tetrahydropyran moiety with a 4,8-ether linkage. None of these compounds were found to be cytotoxic toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines. However, compounds 3, 7, and 8 significantly inhibited the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.     

Saponins and flavonoids of Allium triquetrum

A phytochemical investigation of the flowers and bulbs of Allium triquetrum has been undertaken, leading to the isolation of five new furostanol saponins, triquetrosides A1/A2 (1a/1b), B (3), and C1/C2 (4a/4b), from the flowers, along with ascalonisides A1/A2 (6a/6b). The 22-O-methyl derivatives of triquetrosides A1/A2 (2a and 2b) and C1/C2 (5a and 5b) were also isolated, but they are considered extraction artifacts. Large amounts of seven kaempferol glycosides, of which one (7) has a new structure, were also isolated from both flowers and bulbs. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectral and chemical methods.     

Ebenfurans IV-VIII from Onobrychis ebenoides: evidence that C-prenylation is the key determinant of the cytotoxicity of 3-formyl-2-arylbenzofurans

Phytochemical investigation of a methanol extract of Onobrychis ebenoides yielded five new 3-formyl-2-arylbenzofurans, namely, ebenfurans IV-VIII (1-5), together with the known compounds ebenfurans I, II (6), and III (7). Only 1 and 7 exhibited growth inhibitory activity against MCF-7 and Ishikawa cells, suggesting that the prenyl moiety at position C-5 is the key determinant of the cytotoxic activity of this group of compounds.