New cytotoxic prostanoids from Taiwanese soft coral Clavularia viridis.

Chemical investigation of the AcOEt/MeOH extract of Clavularia viridis collected in Taiwan has afforded four new prostanoids, named claviridins A-D (1-4, resp.). The structures of compounds 1-4 were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques, including COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. Pharmacological studies revealed that compounds 1-4 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against human cancer cells.