Coriaceumins A-D, the First Nitrogen-Containing Crenulide Diterpenoids from the Brown Alga Dictyota coriacea Collected in the East China Sea.

A phytochemical investigation of an East China Sea collection of the brown alga Dictyota coriacea has led to the isolation of four novel nitrogen-containing crenulide diterpenoids, named coriaceumins A-D (1-4), two rare nitrogenous xenicane diterpenoids, dictyolactams C (5) and D (6), and one known crenulide diterpenoid, hydroxycrenulide (7). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic data analyses, including HRESIMS and 1D/2D NMR. The absolute configurations were determined by a comparison of the experimental ECD spectra with the spectra computed by DFT-based quantum chemical calculations. Coriaceumins A-D (1-4) represent the first examples of nitrogen-containing crenulide diterpenoids. In a bioassay, compounds 2, 3, 5, and 7 were found to exhibit different levels of inhibitory effects against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) with IC50 values ranging from 7.3 to 19 µM. In addition, the primary structure-activity relationships of all the isolates were summarized.

Nine New Antibacterial Diterpenes and Steroids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Lobophytum catalai Tixier-Durivault.

Five new cembrane-type diterpenes, lobocalines A-E (1-5), and four new steroids, lobocaloids A-D (9-12), along with six known related compounds (6-8 and 13-15) were isolated from the Yalong Bay soft coral Lobophytum catalai Tixier-Durivault. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, NMR calculation with DP4+ analysis, time-dependent density functional theory-electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD) calculations, X-ray diffraction analyses and comparison with the reported spectroscopic data of known compounds. Further, with the aid of X-ray diffraction analysis, the structure of lobocrasol B (15) was firmly revised as 15a. In in vitro bioassays, compound 2 showed moderate antibacterial activities against fish pathogenic bacteria Streptococcus parauberis KSP28 and Phoyobacterium damselae FP2244 with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 8.7 and 17.3 µg/mL, respectively. All the steroids exhibited antibacterial activities against the S. parauberis KSP28 with MIC values ranging from 12.3 to 53.6 µg/mL. Compounds 2, 7 and 14 have remarkable inhibitory effects on the hemolysin production of Staphylococcus aureus, while compounds 8-12 have medium inhibitory effects on the pyocyanin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Anti-inflammatory Steroids from the South China Sea Sponge Spongia officinalis.

One new highly degraded steroid, namely 21-nor-4-ene-chaxine A (1) furnishing a 5/6/5-tricyclic, along with one known related analogue (2), were isolated from the South China Sea sponge Spongia officinalis. Their structures including absolute configurations were established by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, TDDFT-ECD calculation, and comparison with the spectral data previously reported in the literature. Compound 1 represent the new member of incisterols family with a highly degradation in ring B. In vitro bioassays revealed compound 2 exhibited significant anti-microglial inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV-2 microglial cells.

Structurally Diverse Diterpenoids from the Sanya Bay Nudibranch Hexabranchus sanguineus and Its Sponge-Prey Chelonaplysilla sp.

Investigation of the South China Sea nudibranch Hexabranchus sanguineus from Sanya Bay afforded, in addition to three known compounds, nine new diterpenoids of the 5,19-cycloclerodane- (sanyanolides A-D), clerodane- (sanyanolide E) and subersin- (sanyanolides F-I) type. Remarkably, six diterpenoids aforementioned from H. sanguineus were also isolated from the sponge Chelonaplysilla sp. from the same water region, suggesting a trophic relationship between H. sanguineus and Chelonaplysilla sp. The structure and absolute configuration of new compounds were established by a combination of spectroscopic data, X-ray diffraction analysis and/or time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism calculations. A plausible biogenetic relationship between these diterpenoids, along with the chemo-ecological implications of their co-occurrence in the two organisms investigated, was proposed and discussed. In in vitro bioassays, echinoclerodane A exhibited a potent inhibitory effect (IC50 =2.81 µM) on LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, echinoclerodane A and oculatolide showed considerable antibacterial activities with MIC values ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 µg/mL.

Nanolobatone A, An Unprecedented Diterpenoid and Related New Casbanoids from the Hainan Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata.

Nanolobatone A, featuring an unprecedented tricyclo[10.3.0.01,2 ]pentadecane carbon skeleton, along with four new polyoxygenated and four unusual endoperoxide-bridged casbane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the Hainan soft coral Sinularia nanolobata. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism calculations. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of new isolates was proposed. Bioassays revealed that nanolobatone A showed weak antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes.

Anti-Inflammatory Steroids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Lobophytum sarcophytoides.

Three new steroids, along with two known related analogs, were isolated from the Xisha Island soft coral Lobophytum sarcophytoides. The structures and absolute configurations of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, time dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism calculation, and comparison with the spectral data previously reported in the literature. In in vitro bioassay, four compounds showed interesting suppressive effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation in BV-2 microglial cells at 10 µM level.

Two new compounds from the Hainan Soft Corals Sinularia tumulosa and Sinularia depressa with their anti-inflammatory or cytotoxic activities.

The detailed chemical investigations of the South China Sea soft corals Sinularia tumulosa and Sinularia depressa, yielded two new compounds, namely tumulosterol A (1) and 11'-hydroxy-α-tocopherylquinone (3), along with four related known ones (2, 5-7). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the spectral data previously reported in the literature. In bioassays, compound 1 displayed significant cytotoxic effects against H1975 and MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 values of 6.0 and 6.3 µM, respectively. In addition, compound 3 exhibited interesting inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells with IC50 value of 9.5 µM.

Cembrane Diterpenes Possessing Nonaromatic Oxacycles from the Hainan Soft Coral Sarcophyton mililatensis.

Documents on the chemical composition of the soft coral Sarcophyton mililatensis are sparse. The present investigation of the Hainan soft coral S. mililatensis resulted in the discovery of six new cembrane diterpenes, sarcoxacyclols A-F (1-6) and four known analogs (7-10). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis along with a comparison with the data in current literature. The nonaromatic oxacycles in their structures were the rarely found tetrahydrofuran ether across C-1 and C-12 and tetrahydropyran ether across C-1 and C-11, respectively. Moreover, the absolute configuration of compound 4 was established unambiguously by X-ray diffraction analysis using Ga Kα radiation (λ = 1.34139 Å). Based on the biogenetical consideration, the absolute configurations of other five new compounds were tentatively assumed. Assessment of the bioactivity for these secondary metabolites revealed that compound 1 exhibited significant tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitory activity (IC50 = 9.5 µmol/L), similar to the positive control dexamethasone (IC50 = 8.7 µmol/L), but no obvious cytotoxicity towards RAW264.7 cells (CC50 > 50 µmol/L). The preliminary molecular docking suggested the crucial roles of the hydroxyl and acetoxyl groups in the computational prediction of the binding mode between the diterpene and the protein.

Four New Diterpenoids from the South China Sea Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata and DFT-Based Structure Elucidation.

Three new cembranoids (1-3) and a new casbanoid (4), along with three known analogues (5-7), have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia nanolobata collected off Ximao Island. The structures, including the absolute configurations of new compounds, were established using extensive spectroscopic data analysis, time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD) calculations, and the comparison with spectroscopic data of known compounds. In the in vitro bioassay, compounds 1 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against human erythroleukemia (HEL) cell lines, with IC50 values of 37.1 and 42.4 µM, respectively.

Ocellatuperoxides A-F, Uncommon Anti-Tumoral γ-Pyrone Peroxides from a Photosynthetic Mollusk Placobranchus ocellatus.

Six new pairs of γ-pyrone polypropionate enantiomers with an unusual peroxyl bridge at the side chain, namely (±)-ocellatuperoxides A-F (1-6), were isolated and characterized from the South China Sea photosynthetic mollusk Placobranchus ocellatus. Extensive spectroscopic analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, ECD- (electronic circular dichroism) comparison, and TDDFT (time-dependent density functional theory) ECD computation were used to determine the structures and absolute configurations of new compounds. In a cell viability assay, several compounds showed considerable anti-tumoral effects on human non-small cell lung cancer cells A549 with Gefitinib (7.4 µM) and Erlotinib (2.1 µM) as positive controls. Further RNA-sequencing analysis and gene expression evaluation indicated that the anti-tumoral activity of the most effective compound 3 was associated with the regulation of several important genes, such as FGFR1 and HDAC5.

Mililatensols A-C, New Records of Sarsolenane and Capnosane Diterpenes from Soft Coral Sarcophyton mililatensis.

Three unusual diterpenes with rare sarsolenane and capnosane skeletons, namely mililatensols A-C (1-3), were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sarcophyton mililatensis, leading to the first record of sarsolenane and capnosane diterpenes from the title animal. The structures of compounds 1-3 were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the literature data. Moreover, the absolute configuration of 2 was determined by TDDFT ECD calculations. In an in vitro bioassay, none of the isolated compounds showed obvious anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-induced TNF-α release in RAW264.7 macrophages. In the preliminary virtual screening of inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2 by molecular docking, the results showed these three diterpenes were potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors.

Litosetoenins A-E, Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Litophyton setoensis, Backbone-Rearranged through Divergent Cyclization Achieved by Epoxide Reactivity Inversion.

Litosetoenins A-E (1-5), five new ring-rearranged serrulatane-type diterpenoids with a common tricyclo[3.0.4]decane core, along with a known diterpenoid glycoside (6), a related known diterpenoid (7), and four known sesquiterpenoids (8-11), were isolated from a Balinese soft coral Litophyton setoensis. Spirolitosetoenin A (5a) and isospirolitosetoenin A (5b), featuring an unprecedented spiro[4,5]decane core, were obtained after treatment of compound 5 with HCl in methanol. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum mechanical nuclear magnetic resonance approach, and chemical methods. A plausible biosynthetic pathway involving an unusual divergent biogenesis was proposed.

Rearranged Diels-Alder Adducts and Prenylated Flavonoids as Potential PTP1B Inhibitors from Morus nigra.

Two novel rearranged Diels-Alder adducts, morunigrines A (1) and B (2), and four new prenylated flavonoids, morunigrols A-D (3-6), were isolated from the twigs of Morus nigra, together with four known prenylated phenolic compounds, including two flavonoids (7 and 8) and two 2-arylbenzofurans (9 and 10). Morunigrines A (1) and B (2) are a novel class of Diels-Alder adducts with unprecedented carbon skeletons featuring a rearranged chalcone-stilbene/2-arylbenzofuran core decorated with a unique methylbiphenyl moiety. The structures of the new compounds were assigned by analysis of spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compound 6 was determined by the measurement of specific rotation. A plausible biogenetic pathway for 1 and 2 is also proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited more potent protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 1.8 ± 0.2 and 1.3 ± 0.3 µM, respectively, than that of the positive control oleanolic acid (IC50, 2.5 ± 0.1 µM).

The chemical and chemo-ecological studies on Weizhou nudibranch Glossodoris atromarginata.

A detailed chemical investigation of the nudibranch Glossodoris atromarginata collected from Weizhou Island, South China Sea, yielded a new spongian-type diterpene 1, together with the four known-related compounds 2-5. The structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated by the detailed spectroscopic analysis, the comparison of the spectroscopic data with the known diterpene isoagatholactone, and the 13 C chemical shift calculation. In addition, evidence for the absolute stereochemistry of the known compound 2 was, for the first time, provided by the application of time-dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism calculation.

Uncommon nornardosinane, seconeolemnane and related sesquiterpenoids from Xisha soft coral Litophyton nigrum.

Three new nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids linardosinenes A-C (1-3) and four new neolemnane-type sesquiterpenoids lineolemnenes A-D (4-7), together with the related known compound 4-acetoxy-2,8-neolemnadien-5-one (8), were isolated from the Xisha soft coral Litophyton nigrum. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data, in association withmodified Mosher's method and ECD calculations for configurational assignments and the absolute configuration of8was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis for the first time. Structurally uncommon nornardosinane and seconeolemnane skeletons for compounds 1 and 7, respectively, are rare carbon frameworks in naturally occurring sesquiterpenoids. The absolute configurations of 1, 7, and 8 were determined by modified Mosher's method, TDDFT ECD approach, and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. This is the first chemical study of L. nigrum and the first report of nornardosinane, seconeolemnane and related sesquiterpenoids from the genus Litophyton. The isolates 1-7 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against THP-1, SNU-398, HT-29, Capan-1 and A549 cell lines and inhibitory activities against PTP1B, BRD4, HDAC1 and HDAC6 protein kinases. The results indicated that compounds 2-5 inhibited proliferation of human cancer cells. However, none of them were potent inhibitors of protein kinases.

Rare new bicyclic cembranoid ethers and a novel trihydroxy prenylated guaiane from the Xisha soft coral Lobophytum sp.

Seven new cembrane-type diterpenes, lobophytolins C-I (3-9), and one new prenylated-guiane-type diterpene, lobophytolin J (10), along with six known related ones (1, 2, 11-14), have been isolated from the soft coral Lobophytum sp. collected off the Xisha Island in the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and quantum mechanical (QM)-NMR methods. The absolute configuration of lobophytolin H (8) was determined by the application of the modified Mosher's method and chemical transformation. Lobophytolin D (4) exhibited promising cytotoxicities in in vitro bioassays against HT-29, Capan-1, A549, and SNU-398 human cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 4.52, 6.62, 5.17, and 6.15 µM, respectively.

Polycyclic furanobutenolide-derived norditerpenoids from the South China Sea soft corals Sinularia scabra and Sinularia polydactyla with immunosuppressive activity.

One new polycyclic furanobutenolide-derived norcembranoid, xiguscabrolide H (1), together with eleven known related norditerpenoids 2-12 were isolated from South China Sea soft corals Sinularia scabra and S. polydactyla, respectively. Among them, compounds 1, 6, 8, and 12 were discovered from the former species, while compounds 2-5, 7, and 9-11 were obtained from the latter species. The structure of new compound 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by the comparison with the reported data. With the assistance of time-dependent density functional theory electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT-ECD) calculations, its absolute configuration was determined. Moreover, the absolute stereostructures of the known compounds 3, 4, and 9-12, of which only relative configurations were assigned, were established for the first time by X-Ray diffraction analysis and TDDFT-ECD calculations, respectively. In bioassay, several isolates exhibited potent inhibitory effects on the ConA-induced T lymphocytes and/or LPS-induced B lymphocytes proliferation.

Complex Polypropionates from a South China Sea Photosynthetic Mollusk: Isolation and Biomimetic Synthesis Highlighting Novel Rearrangements.

Placobranchus ocellatus is well known to produce diverse and complex γ-pyrone polypropionates. In this study, the chemical investigation of P. ocellatus from the South China Sea led to the discovery and identification of ocellatusones A-D, a series of racemic non-γ-pyrone polyketides with novel skeletons, characterized by a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane (1, 2), a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (3) or a mesitylene-substituted dimethylfuran-3(2H)-one core (4). Extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical computation, chemical synthesis, and/or X-ray diffraction analysis were used to determine the structure and absolute configuration of the new compounds, including each enantiomer of racemic compounds 1-4 after chiral HPLC resolution. An array of new and diversity-generating rearrangements is proposed to explain the biosynthesis of these unusual compounds based on careful structural analysis and comparison with six known co-occurring γ-pyrones (5-10). Furthermore, the successful biomimetic semisynthesis of ocellatusone A (1) confirmed the proposed rearrangement through an unprecedented acid induced cascade reaction.

Cytotoxic Nitrogenous Terpenoids from Two South China Sea Nudibranchs Phyllidiella pustulosa, Phyllidia coelestis, and Their Sponge-Prey Acanthella cavernosa.

A detailed chemical investigation of two South China Sea nudibranchs Phyllidiella pustulosa and Phyllidia coelestis, as well as their possible sponge-prey Acanthella cavernosa, led to the isolation of one new nitrogenous cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid xidaoisocyanate A (1), one new naturally occurring nitrogen-containing kalihinane-type diterpenoid bisformamidokalihinol A (16), along with 17 known nitrogenous terpenoids (2⁻15, 17⁻19). The structures of all the isolates were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and by the comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. In addition, the absolute stereochemistry of the previously reported axiriabiline A (5) was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. In a bioassay, the bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids 8, 10, and 11 exhibited cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines.

Macrocyclic anti-inflammatory diterpenes from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia erecta and their isolation by combined column chromatography.

Eleven new macrocyclic casbane-type diterpenes, namely sinueracasbanones E-O (1-11), have been isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Sinularia erecta using combined column chromatography. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, the modified Mosher's method, X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum mechanical calculation methods. In bioassay, compounds 2, 5, 10 and 11 displayed interesting anti-inflammatory activities by the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α protein release with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 15.6, 7.1, 13.7 and 6.6 µM, respectively.