The Invasive Anemone sp. of the Coral Reef as a Source of Sulfur- and Nitrogen-Containing Metabolites and Cytotoxic 5,8-Epidioxy Steroids.

The -genus anemones were examined for their proteinaceous poisons over 50 years ago. On the other hand, the current research focuses on isolating and describing the non-proteinaceous secondary metabolites from the invasive anemones, which help take advantage of their population outbreak as a new source of chemical candidates and potential drug leads. From an organic extract of sp.

Isosarcophytoxide Derivatives with a 2,5-Dihydrofuran Moiety from the Soft Coral .

The present chemical investigation on the organic extract of the soft coral has contributed to the isolation of four new cembranoids: 16- and 16-hydroperoxyisosarcophytoxides ( and ), 16- and 16-methoxyisosarcophytoxides ( and ), and a known cembranoid, lobocrasol (). The structures of all isolates were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Their structures were characterized by a 2,5-dihydrofuran moiety, of which the relative configuration was determined by DU8-based calculation for long-range coupling constants ().

Computationally Assisted Structural Elucidation of Cembranoids from the Soft Coral .

A persistent study on soft coral resulted in the characterization of two new cembranolides, tortuolides A and B ( and ), and a new related diterpene, -sarcophytonolide Q. Their structures were determined not only by extensive spectroscopic analysis but also by DFT calculations of ECD and NMR data, the latter of which was combined with statistical analysis methods, e.g.

A new species of anthothelid octocoral (Cnidaria, Alcyonacea) discovered on an algal reef of Taiwan.

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of 132 octocoral species reveals a close relationship between specimens collected from the intertidal pools of the Datan Algal Reef, Taoyuan, Taiwan, and (Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860), but the two species have distinct morphological features. On the basis of morphological differences in polyps and sclerites, we identify and describe a new species: The distinct identifying features of include the upright contractile polyps from thin encrusting membranes and abundant 6-radiate sclerites. Using an integrative approach, we present the findings of morphological comparisons and molecular phylogenetic analyses to demonstrate that is distinct from other species.

Cembranolides and Related Constituents from the Soft Coral .

In an attempt to explore the bioactive metabolites of the soft coral , three new cembranolides, cinerenolides A-C (-), and 16 known compounds were isolated and identified from the EtOAc extract. The structures of the new cembranolides were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, and the NOE analysis of cinerenolide A () was performed with the assistance of the calculated lowest-energy molecular model. The relative configuration of cinerenolide C () was determined by the quantum chemical NMR calculation, followed by applying DP4+ analysis.

Using 3D photogrammetry to quantify the subtle differences of coral reefs under the impacts of marine activities.

Marine activities may cause the degradation of coral reefs. The composition of benthic communities and seawater quality have been commonly used as the proxies to assess the impacts of marine activities. However, these proxies may not be able to detect the subtle differences within homogeneous environment.

Polyoxygenated Klysimplexane- and Eunicellin-Based Diterpenoids from the Gorgonian .

Three new polyoxygenated diterpenoids with a rare 4-isopropyl-1,5,8a-trimethylperhydrophenanthrane structure of the klysimplexane skeleton, briarols A‒C (1‒3), and one eunicellin-based diterpenoid, briarol D (4), were isolated from , a gorgonian inhabiting Taiwanese waters. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined by employing extensive analyses of NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) data. Metabolites 1‒3 were found to possess the rarely found skeleton of the diterpenoid klysimplexin T.

New Biscembranoids Sardigitolides A-D and Known Cembranoid-Related Compounds from : Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Bioactivities.

Chemical examination from the cultured soft coral resulted in the isolation and structural identification of four new biscembranoidal metabolites, sardigitolides A-D (-), along with three previously isolated biscembranoids, sarcophytolide L (), glaucumolide A (), glaucumolide B (), and two known cembranoids ( and ). The chemical structures of all isolates were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Additionally, in order to discover bioactivity of marine natural products, - were examined in terms of their inhibitory potential against the upregulation of inflammatory factor production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage J774A.

The Octocorals of Dongsha Atoll (South China Sea): An Iterative Approach to Species Identification Using Classical Taxonomy and Molecular Barcodes.

Surveys of octocorals from Dongsha Atoll, Taiwan were conducted during 2011, 2013 and 2015 by SCUBA at a depth range of 6-25 m. The collections yielded ~540 specimens, encompassing the variety of taxa occurring in the explored sites; estimates of their abundances were also recorded. Dongsha features a highly diverse octocoral fauna, and octocorals are the dominant benthic organisms in the surveyed reef sites, often covering the majority of the hard substratum.

Bioactive Capnosanes and Cembranes from the Soft Coral .

Two new capnosane-based diterpenoids, flaccidenol A () and 7--pavidolide D (), two new cembranoids, flaccidodioxide () and flaccidodiol (), and three known compounds to were characterized from the marine soft coral , collected off the coast of the island of Pratas. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and spectroscopic data comparison with related structures. The rare capnosane diterpenoids were isolated herein from the genus for the first time.

New secondary metabolite with cytotoxicity from spawning soft coral in Taiwan.

We have conducted a long-term research on the Taiwanese soft coral , which resulted in many xenicane-type diterpenoids such as asterolaurins A-M from coral tissues during the non-spawning period were isolated. Here, we report a new xenicane diterpenoid, asterolaurin N (), along with three known xenicane-type monocarbocyclic diterpenes [13-epi-9-desacetylxenicin (), xeniolide-B 9-acetate () and asterolaurin I ()] from during the spawning period. The structures of the new secondary metabolite were established with an extensive spectroscopic analysis.

Briarenones A‒C, New Briarellin Diterpenoids from the Gorgonian .

Three new eunicellin-derived diterpenoids of briarellin type, briarenones A‒C (‒), were isolated from a Formosan gorgonian . The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR. The absolute configuration of was further confirmed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Cembranoid-Related Metabolites and Biological Activities from the Soft Coral .

Five new cembranoid-related diterpenoids, namely, flexibilisins D and E ( and ), secoflexibilisolides A and B ( and ), and flexibilisolide H (), along with nine known compounds (⁻), were isolated from the soft coral Their structures were established by extensive spectral analysis. Compound possesses an unusual skeleton that could be biogenetically derived from cembranoids. The cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities of the isolates were investigated, and the results showed that dehydrosinulariolide () and 11--sinulariolide acetate () exhibited cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and 14-deoxycrassin () displayed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of superoxide anion generation and elastase release in -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLF/CB)-induced human neutrophils.

New Cembranoids and a Biscembranoid Peroxide from the Soft Coral .

Six new cembranoids, cherbonolides A-E (⁻) and bischerbolide peroxide (), along with one known cembranoid, isosarcophine (), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral . The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Compound was discovered to be the first example of a molecular skeleton formed from two cembranoids connected by a peroxide group.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Cembranoids from a Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral .

Six new polyoxygenated cembrane-based diterpenoids, stellatumolides A⁻C (⁻), stellatumonins A and B ( and ), and stellatumonone (), were isolated together with ten known related compounds (⁻) from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of soft coral . The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and data comparison with related structures. Compounds and were isolated from a natural source for the first time.

Anti-Inflammatory Polyoxygenated Steroids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum michaelae.

Three new polyoxygenated steroids, michosterols A-C (-), and four known compounds (-) were isolated from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of the soft coral , collected off the coast of Taitung. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and comparison of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data with related steroids. The cytotoxicity of compounds - against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines was assayed.

Anti-Inflammatory Lobane and Prenyleudesmane Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum varium.

New lobane-based diterpenoids lobovarols A-D (-) and a prenyleudesmane-type diterpenoid lobovarol E () along with seven known related diterpenoids (-) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a Taiwanese soft coral . Their structures were identified on the basis of multiple spectroscopic analyses and spectral comparison. The absolute configuration at C-16 of the known compound is reported herein for the first time.

Bioactive Steroids with Methyl Ester Group in the Side Chain from a Reef Soft Coral Sinularia brassica Cultured in a Tank.

ontinuing chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of a reef soft coral , which was cultured in a tank, afforded four new steroids with methyl ester groups, sinubrasones A-D (1-4) for the first time. In particular, 1 possesses a β-D-xylopyranose. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses.

Isoprenoids from the Soft Coral Sarcophyton glaucum.

Five new isoprenoids, 3,4,8,16-tetra--lobocrasol (), 1,15β-epoxy-deoxysarcophine (), 3,4-dihydro-4α,7β,8α-trihydroxy-Δ²-sarcophine (3), -sarcophyolide E (4), and 16-deacetyl- halicrasterol B (5) and ten known compounds 6‒, were characterized from the marine soft coral , collected off Taitung coastline. Their structures were defined by analyzing spectra data, especially 2D NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). The structure of the known compound lobocrasol () was revised.

Bioactive new withanolides from the cultured soft coral Sinularia brassica.

Continuing study of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of the cultured soft coral Sinularia brassica afforded five new withanolides, sinubrasolides H-L (1-5). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxicities of new compounds 1-5 and a known compound sinubrasolide A (6) against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines were assayed.

Klyflaccisteroids K-M, bioactive steroidal derivatives from a soft coral Klyxum flaccidum.

New steroids, klyflaccisteroids K-M (1-3), were isolated from a soft coral Klyxum flaccidum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Klyflaccisteroid K (1) is the unique 9,11-secosteroid with a 5,8-epidioxy-9-ene functional group.

A new family of poecilostomatoid copepods (Strepidae fam. nov.) associated with the sun coral, Tubastraea coccinea Lesson, 1829 in Taiwan.

Both sexes of Strepus elongatus gen. et sp. nov.

Copepods associated with scleractinian corals: a worldwide checklist and a case study of their impact on the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pocilloporidae).

The Cnidaria have more symbiotic copepods than any other group of invertebrates, and the greatest numbers of these associates occur on hard corals. A review of the scattered literature on the diversity and taxonomic composition of scleractinian-associated copepods and their hosts revealed a total of 148 coral species, representing 66 genera and 15 families that serve as hosts to copepods. At present, 363 copepod species, representing 99 genera, 19 families and three orders, have been recorded as associates of scleractinian corals.

Four anchimolgid copepods (Poecilostomatoida: Anchimolgidae) associated with the scleractinian coral Pavona explanulata (Lamarck, 1816) in Taiwan.

Several species of copepods are known to live in association with the coral genus Pavona Lamarck, 1801. In this paper, four poecilostomatoid copepods, including one new genus, two new species, and one species new to Taiwan, are described, i.e.