Cytotoxic polyhydroxylated steroids from the South China Sea soft coral Lobophytum sp.

Graphical abstract Four new polyhydroxylated steroids lobophysterols A–D (1 – 4), were isolated from the South Chinese Sea soft coral Lobophytum sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with those reported in the literature. In bioassay, compound 4 showed weak cytotoxicities against HT-29, SNU-398, and Capan-1 cells. Highlights • Four new polyhydroxylated steroids were isolated from a Chinese soft coral Lobophytum sp. • Lobophysterols A and B with a hydroperoxyl group have been rarely found in the genus Lobophytum. • Lobophysterol D showed weak cytotoxicities against HT-29, SNU-398, and Capan-1 cells. Abstract Four new polyhydroxylated steroids lobophysterols A–D (1 – 4), together with two known related compounds sarcophytosterol (5) and klyflaccisteroid B (6), were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Lobophytum sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with those reported in the literature. In bioassay, compound 4 showed weak cytotoxicities against HT-29, SNU-398, and Capan-1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]