Dictyoptesterols A-C, ∆22-24-oxo cholestane-type sterols with potent PTP1B inhibitory activity from the brown alga Dictyopteris undulata Holmes.

Three new cholestane-type sterols bearing an unusual ∆22-24-oxo side chain, namely, dictyoptesterols A-C (1-3), were isolated from the brown alga Dictyopteris undulata Holmes, together with five known strutural analogues (4-8). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of the steroidal nuclei of the new compounds were proposed by a comparison of NMR data with those of related known compounds as well as biogenetic considerations. All of the isolates were evaluated in vitro for their potential to inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) activity. The results showed that compounds 1-5 exhibited different levels of PTP1B inhibitory activities with IC50 values ranging from 3.03 ±â€¯0.76 to 15.01 ±â€¯2.88 µM. In particular, compounds 3 and 4 showed promising inhibitory effects towards PTP1B with IC50 values of 3.03 ±â€¯0.76 and 3.72 ±â€¯0.40 µM, respectively, when compared to the positive control oleanolic acid (IC50, 2.83 ±â€¯0.39 µM). The chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated ∆22-24-oxo cholestanes has also been discussed.

New isoquinolinequinone alkaloids from the South China Sea nudibranch Jorunna funebris and its possible sponge-prey Xestospongia sp.

Two new renieramycin-type bistetrahydroisoquinolinequinone alkaloids, fennebricins A (1) and B (5), and one new isoquinolinequinone alkaloid, N-formyl-1,2-dihydrorenierol (7), were isolated from the skin of the South China Sea nudibranch Jorunna funebris and its possible sponge-prey Xestospongia sp., together with eight known metabolites, including three bistetrahydroisoquinolinequinones (2-4) and five isoquinolinequinones (8-12). Their structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data including 1D and 2D NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) and by comparison with data for related known compounds. All the metabolites except for 7 occurred simultaneously in the two animals, supporting recent ecological studies that the nudibranch J. funebris preys on the sponge of the genus Xestospongia.

Racemosins A and B, two novel bisindole alkaloids from the green alga Caulerpa racemosa.

Racemosin A (1), a structurally unique bisindole alkaloid possessing the seco-indolo[3,2-a]carbazole skeleton with two uncommon indolinenone units both conjugated with a methyl propenoate moiety, and its unusual cyclized derivative, racemosin B (2), were isolated from the green alga Caulerpa racemosa, together with the most commonly encountered pigment in the genus Caulerpa, caulerpin (3). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with data for related known compounds. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 and 2 was proposed. In a neuro-protective assay, compound 1 significantly attenuated the Aß2(5-35)-induced SH-SY5Y cell damage with a 14.6% increase in cell viability at the concentration of 10µM when compared to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG, 16.57% increase at 10 µM) as the positive control.