A new sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone from the marine sponge Dysidea arenaria.

ABSTRACT

Detailed chemical investigation of the South China sponge Dysidea arenaria resulted in the isolation of a new sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone, 19-hydroxypolyfibrospongol B (1), along with five known compounds polyfibrospongol B (2), isosemnonorthoquinone (3), ilimaquinone (4), smenospongine (5) and smenotronic acid (6). The structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro anti- HIV activity on HIV-1 RT was evaluated. Compounds 3 -6 displayed moderate inhibitory activity, with IC(50)values of 239.7, 16.4, 176.1, and 130.4 microM, respectively, while 1 and 2 were found to be inactive against the same biological target.