Demethoxymurrapanine, an indole-naphthoquinone alkaloid, inhibits the proliferation of oral cancer cells without major side effects on normal cells.

Antioral cancer drugs need a greater antiproliferative impact on cancer than on normal cells. Demethoxymurrapanine (DEMU) inhibits proliferation in several cancer cells, but an in-depth investigation was necessary. This study evaluated the proliferation-modulating effects of DEMU, focusing on oral cancer and normal cells.

Scalarane-Type Sesterterpenoids from the Marine Sponge sp. Alleviate Inflammation in Human Neutrophils.

Sponge-derived scalaranes are remarkable sesterterpenoids previously found to exhibit profound inhibitory effects against neutrophilic inflammation. In our current work, we constructed the metabolomic profile of marine sponge sp. for the first time using a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) molecular networking approach.

Sponge-Derived 24-Homoscalaranes as Potent Anti-Inflammatory Agents.

Scalarane-type sesterterpenoids are known for their therapeutic potential in cancer treatments. However, the anti-inflammatory properties of this class of metabolites remain elusive. Our current work aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory scalaranes from marine sponge sp.

Probing Anti-Proliferative 24-Homoscalaranes from a Sponge sp.

In the current study, an NMR spectroscopic pattern-based procedure for probing scalarane derivatives was performed and four new 24-homoscalaranes, lendenfeldaranes A-D (- ), along with three known compounds, 12α-acetoxy-22-hydroxy-24-methyl-24-oxoscalar-16-en- 25-al (), felixin F (), and 24-methyl-12,24,25-trioxoscalar-16-en-22-oic acid () were isolated from the sponge sp. The structures of scalaranes - were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Scalaranes - were further evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward a series of human cancer cell lines and the results suggested that and dominated in the anti- proliferative activity of the extract.

Ubiquitin-Proteasome Modulating Dolabellanes and Secosteroids from Soft Coral .

We performed a high-content screening (HCS) assay aiming to discover bioactive molecules with proteasome inhibitory activity. By structural elucidation, we identified six compounds purified from soft coral , which potentiates proteasome inhibition Chemical structure elucidation revealed they are dolabellane- and secosteroid-based compounds including a new dolabellane, clavinflol C (), three known dolabellanes, stolonidiol (), stolonidiol-17-acetate (), and clavinflol B () as well as two new secosteroids, 3,11-dihydroxy-24-methyl-9,11-secocholest-5-en-9,23-dione () and 3,11-dihydroxy-24-methylene-9,11-secocholest-5-en-9,23-dione (). All six compounds show less cytotoxicity than those of known proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib and MG132.

Lemnalol Modulates the Electrophysiological Characteristics and Calcium Homeostasis of Atrial Myocytes.

Sepsis, an inflammatory response to infection provoked by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is associated with high mortality, as well as ischemic stroke and new-onset atrial arrhythmia. Severe bacterial infections causing sepsis always result in profound physiological changes, including fever, hypotension, arrhythmia, necrosis of tissue, systemic multi-organ dysfunction and finally death. LPS challenge-induced inflammatory responses during sepsis may increase the likelihood of the arrhythmogenesis.

A High-Content Screening Assay for the Discovery of Novel Proteasome Inhibitors from Formosan Soft Corals.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a major proteolytic pathway that safeguards protein homeostasis. The main 26S proteasome consists of a 20S catalytic core proteasome and a 19S substrate recognition proteasome. UPS dysfunction underlies many important clinical diseases involving inflammation, tumors, and neurodegeneration.

Xeniaphyllane-Derived Terpenoids from Soft Coral Sinularia nanolobata.

A novel tetranorditerpenoid, sinubatin A () (having an unprecedented carbon skeleton), a new norditerpenoid, sinubatin B () (a 4,5-epoxycaryophyllene possessing an unusual methylfuran moiety side chain), and a known diterpenoid, gibberosin J () were isolated from soft coral The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data.

New Cytotoxic Terpenoids from Soft Corals Nephthea chabroli and Paralemnalia thyrsoides.

A novel cytotoxic diterpenoid, chabrolin A () (possessing an unprecedented terpenoid skeleton), as well as three new cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids, parathyrsoidins E-G (-), were isolated by cytotoxicity-guided fractionation from soft corals and . The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data.

Coral-Derived Natural Marine Compound GB9 Impairs Vascular Development in Zebrafish.

Blood vessels in vertebrates are established and genetically controlled in an evolutionarily-conserved manner during embryogenesis. Disruption of vascular growth by chemical compounds or environmental hormones may cause developmental defects. This study analyzed the vascular impacts of marine compound GB9 in zebrafish.

Mollisolactones A and B, novel dinormonoterpenes from the soft coral Sinularia mollis.

Two novel dinormonoterpenes, designated as mollisolactones A and B, were discovered from the soft coral Sinularia mollis on the basis of a chromatographic and NMR spectroscopy-based fractionation. Their structures were solved through analysis of comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and HRESIMS experiments. The biological activities of the obtained metabolites were evaluated for cytotoxicity against A-459 (human lung carcinoma), HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma), and P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia) cancer cell lines as well as antiviral activity against HCMV (human cytomegalovirus).

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.

Polyoxygenated cembrane diterpenoids from the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi.

Five new polyoxygenated cembranoids, named (+)-1,15-epoxy-2-methoxy-12-methoxycarbonyl-11E-sarcophytoxide (1), (+)-2-epi-12-methoxycarbonyl-11E-sarcophine (2), 3,4-epoxyehrenberoxide A (3), ehrenbergol D (4) and ehrenbergol E (5), were obtained from the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi. The structures of 1-5 were established on the basis of comprehensive NMR and HR-ESI-MS analyses and by comparison with reported data in the literature. Compounds 4 and 5 showed moderate cytotoxicity against P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia) cancer cell line with EC50 values of 2.

Calpains mediate the proteolytic modification of human cytomegalovirus UL112-113 proteins.

The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL112-113 gene is implicated in lytic viral replication. The UL112-113 proteins p34, p43, p50 and p84 are expressed via alternative splicing. However, the mechanism for the generation of three additional virus-associated proteins (p20, p26 and p28), which share the UL112 reading frame, remains unknown.

Lemnalol attenuates mast cell activation and osteoclast activity in a gouty arthritis model.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft coral-derived anti-inflammatory compound, lemnalol, on mast cell (MC) function and osteoclast activity in rats with monosodium urate (MSU) crystal-induced gouty arthritis.

Methods: In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of lemnalol on intra-articular injection of MSU induces gouty arthritis with the measurement of ankle oedema. Toluidine blue staining were used to analyse the infiltration and the percentage degranulation MCs.

Secocrassumol, a seco-cembranoid from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Lobophytum crassum.

Chemical investigations on the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Lobophytum crassum led to the purification of a new seco-cembranoid, secocrassumol. The structural elucidation was established by extensive NMR, HRESIMS and CD data. The absolute configuration at C-12 was determined as S using a modified Mosher's acylation.

Numerosol A-D, new cembranoid diterpenes from the soft coral Sinularia numerosa.

Four new cembrane-type diterpenes; numerosol A-D (1-4); along with a known steroid; gibberoketosterol (5); were isolated from the Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia numerosa. The structures of these metabolites were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Gibberoketosterol (5) exhibited cytotoxicity against P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia) cell line with an ED50 of 6.

Sinugyrosanolide A, an unprecedented C-4 norcembranoid, from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia gyrosa.

Chemical investigations on the acetone extract of the Formosan soft coral Sinularia gyrosa have obtained a novel C-4 norcembranoid possessing an unprecedented tricyclo[9.3.0.

Kelsoenethiol and dikelsoenyl ether, two unique kelsoane-type sesquiterpenes, from the Formosan soft coral Nephthea erecta.

Two new kelsoane-type sesquiterpenes, namely kelsoenethiol (1) and dikelsoenyl ether (2), were obtained from the Formosan soft coral Nephthea erecta. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, ESI orbitrap mass and quantum chemical calculations (QCC). The cytotoxicity against A-459 (human lung carcinoma), P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia), and HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cancer cell lines of 1 and 2 was evaluated in vitro.

New diterpenoids from soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi.

Continuing chemical investigation on the acetone extracts of the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi collected off the coast of San-hsian-tai, Taitong County, Taiwan led to the isolation of two new diterpenoids, ehrenbergol C and acetyl ehrenberoxide B (1 and 2). The structures of these isolated metabolites were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses. Moreover, in vitro tests show that compounds 1 and 2 displayed antiviral activity towards human cytomegalovirus, with EC50 of 20 and 8.

Anti-inflammatory activities of natural products isolated from soft corals of Taiwan between 2008 and 2012.

This review reports details on the natural products isolated from Taiwan soft corals during the period 2008-2012 focusing on their in vitro and/or in vivo anti-inflammatory activities. Chemical structures, names, and literature references are also reported. This review provides useful and specific information on potent anti-inflammatory marine metabolites for future development of immune-modulatory therapeutics.

Secosteroids and norcembranoids from the soft coral Sinularia nanolobata.

Two new 9,11-secosteroids, 22α-acetoxy-24-methylene-3β,6α,11-trihydroxy-9, 11-seco-cholest-7-en-9-one (1) and 11-acetoxy-24-methylene-1β,3β,6α-trihydroxy-9, 11-seco-cholest-7-en-9-one (2), as well as two known norcembranoids, 5-epi-sinuleptolide (3) and sinuleptolide (4), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia nanolobata. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The anti-HCMV (human cytomegalovirus) activity of 1-4 and its cytotoxicity against selected cell lines were evaluated.

Human cytomegalovirus UL76 elicits novel aggresome formation via interaction with S5a of the ubiquitin proteasome system.

HCMV UL76 is a member of a conserved Herpesviridae protein family (Herpes_UL24) that is involved in viral production, latency, and reactivation. UL76 presents as globular aggresomes in the nuclei of transiently transfected cells. Bioinformatic analyses predict that UL76 has a propensity for aggregation and targets cellular proteins implicated in protein folding and ubiquitin-proteasome systems (UPS).

Parathyrsoidins A-D, four new sesquiterpenoids from the soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides.

Four new nardosinane-type sesquiterpenoids, parathyrsoidins A-D (1-4) were isolated from the soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. The structures of parathyrsoidins A-D (1-4) were determined by extensive spectral analysis and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cell lines as well as antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were evaluated in vitro.