Briaviolides K-N, New Briarane-Type Diterpenoids from Cultured Octocoral Briareum violaceum.

Four new briarane diterpenoids, briaviolides K-N (1-4), have been obtained from the cultured-type octocoral Briareum violaceum. Using a spectroscopic approach, the structures of briaranes 1-4 were identified. This study employed an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line, and found that among the four briaranes, briarane 2 possessed anti-inflammatory activity against inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expressions in cells. In addition, principal component analysis using the chemical global positioning system (ChemGPS) for natural products (ChemGPS-NP) was employed in order to analyze the structure-activity relationship (SAR), and the results indicated that the ring conformation of the compound has a leading role in suppressing the expressions of pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophages.

Sterols from the Octocoral Nephthea columnaris.

Two new sterols, columnaristerols B (1) and C (2), along with two known analogues, 5,6-epoxylitosterol (3) and litosterol (4), were obtained from the octocoral Nephthea columnaris. The structures of new sterols 1 and 2 were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods and comparing the spectroscopic data with those of known related metabolites. Sterol 3 was found to suppress superoxide anion production and elastase secretion by human neutrophils.

Briarenols C-E, New Polyoxygenated Briaranes from the Octocoral Briareum excavatum.

Three new polyoxygenated briarane diterpenoids, briarenols C-E (1-3), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum excavatum. The structures of briaranes 1-3 were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data, and the methylenecyclohexane ring in 1 was found to exist in a twisted boat conformation. Briarenol D (2) displayed an inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils with an IC50 value of 4.65 µM. Briarenol E (3) was found to inhibit the protein expression of pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a murine macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7, stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS).

Briarane Diterpenoids Isolated from Octocorals between 2014 and 2016.

The structures, names, bioactivities, and references of 124 briarane-type natural products, including 66 new metabolites, isolated between 2014 and 2016 are summarized in this review article. All of the briarane diterpenoids mentioned in this review were isolated from octocorals, mainly from Briareum violacea, Dichotella gemmacea, Ellisella dollfusi, Junceella fragilis, Junceella gemmacea, and Pennatula aculeata. Some of these compounds exhibited potential biomedical activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity towards cancer cells.

Briarenol B, a New Polyoxygenated Briarane from the Octocoral Briareum excavatum.

A new polyoxygenated briarane diterpenoid, briarenol B (1), was isolated from the octocoral Briareum excavatun and its structure determined from spectroscopic data. In RAW264.7 cells, a macrophage-like murine cell line, briarane B (1) was found to enhance the protein expression of pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Columnaristerol A, a novel 19-norsterol from the Formosan octocoral Nephthea columnaris.

Columnaristerol A (1), a rare natural 19-norsterol possessing a 10ß-hydroxy group was isolated from the Formosan octocoral Nephthea columnaris, and its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Sterol 1 was found to be a cytotoxic agent that exhibited in vitro moderate cytotoxic activity against MOLT-4 and SUP-T1 human leukemia-lymphoma cell lines.

New anti-inflammatory sterols from a gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp.

Chemical investigation on the EtOAc-soluble fraction from the MeOH/DCM extract of a gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp. afforded two new sterols, 11-acetoxy-24S-methyl-3ß,5α,6α-trihydroxy-9,11-secocholest-7-en-9-one (1) and 5ß,6ß-epoxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8,22-diene-3ß,7ß-diol (2). The structures of sterols 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of related analogues. Both 1 and 2 were shown to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

New 9-Hydroxybriarane Diterpenoids from a Gorgonian Coral Briareum sp. (Briareidae).

Six new 9-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids, briarenolides ZI-ZVI (1-6), were isolated from a gorgonian coral Briareum sp. The structures of briaranes 1-6 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of related analogues. Briarenolides ZII (2) and ZVI (6) were found to significantly inhibit the expression of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Oxytoxin-2, An Algal-Derived Molecule from a Cultured Mollusc Volvatella vigourouxi.

A natural caulerpenyne-derived sesquiterpene, oxytoxin-2 (1), was isolated from a cultured mollusc Volvatella vigourouxi. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and this compound was suggested to be a diet-derived metabolite from the green alga Caulerpa sertularioides.-This is the first study on the chemical constituents of V. vigourouxi. Oxytoxin-2 (1) was found to inhibit significantly the expression of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Briarenolides U-Y, New Anti-Inflammatory Briarane Diterpenoids from an Octocoral Briareum sp. (Briareidae).

Five new 13,14-epoxybriarane diterpenoids, briarenolides U-Y (1-5), were isolated from the octocoral Briareum sp. The structures of briaranes 1-5 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Briarenolides U-Y (1-5) were found to significantly inhibit the expression of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of the Marine-Derived Compound Excavatolide B Isolated from the Culture-Type Formosan Gorgonian Briareum excavatum.

In recent years, several marine-derived compounds have been clinically evaluated. Diterpenes are secondary metabolites from soft coral that exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and cytotoxic activities. In the present study, we isolated a natural diterpene product, excavatolide B, from cultured Formosan gorgonian Briareum excavatum and investigated its anti-inflammatory activities. We found that excavatolide B significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of the proinflammatory mediators, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). We also examined the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of excavatolide B on intraplantar carrageenan-induced inflammatory responses. Excavatolide B was found to significantly attenuate carrageenan-induced nociceptive behaviors, mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, weight bearing deficits and paw edema. In addition, excavatolide B inhibited iNOS, as well as the infiltration of immune cells in carrageenan-induced inflammatory paw tissue.

Briarenolides K and L, new anti-inflammatory briarane diterpenoids from an octocoral Briareum sp. (Briareidae).

Two new briarane-type diterpenoids, briarenolides K (1) and L (2), were isolated from an octocoral identified as Briareum sp. The structures of new briaranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects test, briaranes 1 and 2 were found to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Briarane diterpenoids isolated from gorgonian corals between 2011 and 2013.

The structures, names, bioactivities and references of 138 briarane-type diterpenoids, including 87 new compounds, are summarized in this review. All the briarane-type compounds mentioned in this review article were obtained from gorgonian corals including the genus Briareum, Dichotella, Junceella and Verrucella. Some of these compounds showed potential bioactivities.

Discovery of new eunicellin-based diterpenoids from a Formosan soft coral Cladiella sp.

A new eunicellin diterpenoid, cladieunicellin I (1), and a new natural eunicellin, litophynin I diacetate (2), were isolated from a Formosan soft coral identified as Cladiella sp. The structures of eunicellins 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of related analogues. Eunicellin 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity toward the DLD-1 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells.

Secondary metabolites from the soft coral Sinularia arborea.

Two new 13-hydroxycembrane diterpenoids, arbolides A (1) and B (2), along with a known trihydroxysteroid, crassarosterol A (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia arborea. The structures of new cembranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Steroid 3 was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward K562 and MOLT-4 leukemia.

Towards the small and the beautiful: a small dibromotyrosine derivative from Pseudoceratina sp. sponge exhibits potent apoptotic effect through targeting IKK/NFκB signaling pathway.

A dibromotyrosine derivative, (1'R,5'S,6'S)-2-(3',5'-dibromo-1',6'-dihydroxy-4'-oxocyclohex-2'-enyl) acetonitrile (DT), was isolated from the sponge Pseudoceratina sp., and was found to exhibit a significant cytotoxic activity against leukemia K562 cells. Despite the large number of the isolated bromotyrosine derivatives, studies focusing on their biological mechanism of action are scarce. In the current study we designed a set of experiments to reveal the underlying mechanism of DT cytotoxic activity against K562 cells. First, the results of MTT cytotoxic and the annexin V-FITC/PI apoptotic assays, indicated that the DT cytotoxic activity is mediated through induction of apoptosis. This effect was also supported by caspases-3 and -9 activation as well as PARP cleavage. DT induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as indicated by flow cytometric assay. The involvement of ROS generation in the apoptotic activity of DT was further corroborated by the pretreatment of K562 cells with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, which prevented apoptosis and the disruption of MMP induced by DT. Results of cell-free system assay suggested that DT can act as a topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor, unlike the clinical anticancer drug, etoposide, which acts as a topoisomerase poison. Additionally, we found that DT treatment can block IKK/NFκB pathway and activate PI3K/Akt pathway. These findings suggest that the cytotoxic effect of DT is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction-dependent apoptosis which is mediated through oxidative stress. Therefore, DT represents an interesting reference point for the development of new cytotoxic agent targeting IKK/NFκB pathway.

A new 5α,8α-Epidioxysterol from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli.

A new sterol, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methyl-cholest-6,9(11)-dien-3ß-ol (1), and two known sterols, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methylcholest-6-en-3ß-ol (2) and 24-methylenecholestane-1α,3ß,5α, 6ß,11α-pentol (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli. The structure of sterol 1 was established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known analogues. The cytotoxicity of sterols 1-3 towards various tumor cells is reported.

5-Episinuleptolide acetate, a norcembranoidal diterpene from the formosan soft coral Sinularia sp., induces leukemia cell apoptosis through Hsp90 inhibition.

5-Episinuleptolide acetate (5EPA), a cytotoxic norcembranoidal diterpene recently identified from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp., exhibited potent activity against the K562, Molt 4 and HL 60 cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative assay, as well as the annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) apoptotic assay, indicated that the HL 60 cell line is the most sensitive one towards 5EPA. This diterpenoid led to caspases -3, -8, and -9 activation as well as PARP cleavage. It also induced ROS generation, calcium accumulation and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, the expression levels of Hsp90 protein and several client proteins were downregulated in response to 5EPA treatment. These results suggest that 5EPA's cytotoxic effect on HL 60 cells may be attributed to the inhibition of Hsp90 as well as the induction of mitochondrial stress which finally results in apoptotic cell death.

Natural product chemistry of gorgonian corals of the family Plexauridae distributed in the Indo-Pacific Ocean.

The structures, names, bioactivities and references of 105 natural products obtained from gorgonian corals belonging to the family Plexauridae with an Indo-Pacific distribution are described in this review. All compounds mentioned in this review were obtained from gorgonian corals belonging to the genera Astrogorgia, Bebryce, Echinomuricea, Euplexaura and Menella.

Briarenolides F and G, new briarane diterpenoids from a Briareum sp. octocoral.

Two new briarane diterpenoids, briarenolides, F (1) and G (2), were isolated from an octocoral identified as Briareum sp. The structures of briaranes 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of known briarane analogues. Briarenolide F was proven to be the first 6-hydroperoxybriarane derivative and this compound displayed a significant inhibitory effect on the generation of superoxide anion by human neutrophils.