Search

A known norcembranoidal diterpene, 5-episinuleptolide (1), along with a new analogue, 4a-hydroxy-5-episinuleptolide (2), were isolated from a cultured-type soft coral Sinularia numerosa. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the data with those of the related metabolites. Cytotoxicity of metabolites 1 and 2 against a panel of tumor cells is also described. Compound 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward CCRF-CEM cells with an IC50 value 4.21 µg/mL. Preliminary SAR (structure activity relationship) information was obtained from these two compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel sesquiterpenoid, rumphellaoic acid A (1), was isolated from the gorgonian coral Rumphella antipathies, and was found to possess a carbon skeleton that was obtained for the first time from a natural sources. The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods and this compound and was found to exert a moderate inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new 4,5-seco-caryophyllane sesquiterpenoids, rumphellaones B (1) and C (2), which were found to possess unprecedented ?-lactone moieties, were obtained from the gorgonian coral Rumphella antipathies. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and compound 2 was found to display modest inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviate Seringe), a common vegetable in Asia, is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including inflammation. Extant literature indicates that wild bitter gourds have components that activate PPARα and PPARγ. This research probed the influence of adding wild bitter gourd to diets on inflammation responses in mice with sepsis induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. Male BALB/c mice were divided normal, sepsis, positive control, and three experimental groups. The latter ate diets with low (1%), moderate (2%), and high (10%) ratios of wild bitter gourd lyophilized powder. Before mice were sacrificed, with the exception of the normal group, intraperitoneal injection of LPS induced sepsis in each group; positive control group was injected with LPS after PDTC. This experiment revealed starkly lower weights in groups with added wild bitter gourd than those of the remaining groups. Blood lipids (TG, cholesterol, and NEFA) were also lower in comparison to the sepsis group, and blood glucose concentrations recovered and approached normal levels. Blood biochemistry values related to inflammation reactions indicated GOT, GPT, C-RP, and NO concentrations of groups with added wild bitter gourd were all lower than those of the sepsis group. Secretion levels of the spleen pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-a tallied significantly lower in comparison to the sepsis group, whereas secretion levels of IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine increased. Expression level of proteins NF-κB, iNOS, and COX-2 were significantly inhibited. Results indicate wild bitter gourd in diets promoted lipid metabolism, reducing fat accumulation, and improving low blood glucose in sepsis. Addition of wild bitter gourd can reduce inflammation biochemical markers or indicators and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body, hence improving the inflammation responses in mice with sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new 7α-hydroxyeunicellin-based diterpenoids, designated as cladieunicellins M-Q (1-5), were isolated from a Formosan octocoral Cladiella sp. The structures of 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the data with those of the related metabolites. Cytotoxicity of metabolites 1-5 against the human leukemia Molt 4 and HL 60 is also described. Among them, compounds 1, 3 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward Molt 4 cells with IC50 values 16.43, 14.17 and 15.55 µM, respectively. Preliminary SAR (structure activity relationship) information was obtained from these compounds and their analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new 8-alkylcoumarins, 7-O-methylphellodenol-B (1), 7-methoxy-8-(3-methyl- 2,3-epoxy-1-oxobutyl)chromen-2-one (2), and 3'-O-methylvaginol (3), together with seven known compounds (4-10) were isolated from the fruits of Cnidium monnieri. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the data of known analogues. All the isolates were evaluated the cytoprotective activity by MTS cell proliferation assay and the results showed that all the three new 8-alkylcoumarins exhibited cytoprotective effect on Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells injured by hydrogen peroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new quinone derivative, flexibilisquinone (1), was isolated from the cultured soft coral Sinularia flexibilis, originally distributed in the waters of Taiwan. The structure of quinone 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic methods, particularly 1D and 2D NMR experiments. In the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects test, quinone 1 was found to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins of the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new halimane-type diterpenoid, echinohalimane A (1), was isolated from a gorgonian, identified as Echinomuricea sp. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods and this compound was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward various tumor cells and display an inhibitory effect on the release of elastase by human neutrophils. Echinohalimane A (1) is the first halimane analogue from the marine organisms belonging to phylum Cnidaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new clerodane-type diterpenoid, echinoclerodane A (1), was isolated from a Formosan gorgonian coral Echinomuricea sp. The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Echinoclerodane A (1) is the first clerodane-type compound obtained from the marine organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. Echinoclerodane A (1) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward MOLT-4, HL-60, DLD-1 and LoVo tumor cells and inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion and the release of elastase by human neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new labdane-type diterpenoid, echinolabdane A (1), and a new sterol, 6-epi-yonarasterol B (2), were isolated from a gorgonian coral identified as Echinomuricea sp. The structures of metabolites 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Echinolabdane A (1) possesses a novel tetracyclic skeleton with an oxepane ring jointed to an α,β-unsaturated-γ-lactone ring by a hemiketal moiety, and this compound is the first labdane-type diterpenoid to be obtained from marine organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. 6-epi-Yonarasterol B (2) is the first steroid derivative to be isolated from gorgonian coral belonging to the genus Echinomuricea, and this compound displayed significant inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structures, names, bioactivities, and references of 81 new secondary metabolites obtained from gorgonian corals belonging to the genus Junceella are described in this review. All compounds mentioned in this review were obtained from sea whip gorgonian corals Junceella fragilis and Junceella juncea, collected from the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new cembrane-type diterpenoids, lobocrassins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the soft coral Lobophytum crassum. The structures of cembranes 1–5 were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known cembrane analogues. Lobocrassin A (1) is the first cembranoid possessing and chloromethyl hydroxy lactone functionality and is the first chlorinated cembranoid from soft corals belonging to the genus Lobophytum. Lobocrassins B (2) and C (3) were found to be the stereoisomers of the known cembranes, 14-deoxycrassin (6) and pseudoplexaurol (7), respectively. Lobocrassin B (2) exhibited modest cytotoxicity toward K562, CCRF-CEM, Molt4, and HepG2 tumor cells and displayed significant inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion and the release of elastase by human neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new eunicellin-type diterpenoids, cladielloides A (1) and B (2), which were found to possess a 2-hydroxybutyroxy group in their structures, were isolated from an Indonesian octocoral identified as Cladiella sp. The structures of eunicellins 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Cladielloide B (2) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward CCRF-CEM tumor cells and this compound displayed significant inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new bioactive sterol glycoside, 3β-O-(3′,4′-di-O-acetyl-β-D-arabinopyranosyl) -25ξ-cholestane-3β,5α,6β,26-tetrol-26-acetate) (carijoside A, 1), was isolated from an octocoral identified as Carijoa sp. The structure of glycoside 1 was established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison with spectral data for the other known glycosides. Carijoside A (1) displayed significant inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils and this compound exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward DLD-1, P388D1, HL-60, and CCRF-CEM tumor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]