Briavioids E-G, Newly Isolated Briarane-Diterpenoids from a Cultured Octocoral .

The chemical screening of a cultured soft coral, , led to the isolation of eight natural, briarane-related diterpenoids, including three unreported metabolites, briavioids E-G (-), and five known briaranes, briacavatolides B () and C (), briaexcavatin L (), briaexcavatolide U () and briarenol K (). The structures of briaranes - were established using spectroscopic methods. The absolute configuration of briavioid A (), obtained in a previous study, was reported for the first time in this study by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis using a copper radiation source.

Cembranoids from Octocoral (von Marenzeller, 1886).

Two cembranoids, including a new compound, lobocrassin I (), as well as a known analogue, lobohedleolide (), were obtained by solvent extraction from octocoral . This study employed a spectroscopic approach to establish the structures of these two cembranoids, and utilized single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to determine their absolute configurations. The results of biological activity assays demonstrated that cembranoid exhibited bioactivity against the protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.

Natural Products from Octocorals of the Genus (Family Nephtheidae).

In this review, 170 natural substances, including steroid, diterpenoid, sesquiterpenoid, peptide, prostaglandin, base, chlorolipid, bicyclolactone, amide, piperazine, polyketide, glycerol, benzoic acid, glycyrrhetyl amino acid, hexitol, pentanoic acid, aminoethyl ester, octadecanone, alkaloid, and a 53-kD allergenic component from octocorals belonging to genus , were listed. Some of these compounds displayed potential bioactivities.

Novel Caryophyllane-Related Sesquiterpenoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from (Linnaeus, 1758).

Two previously undescribed caryophyllane-related sesquiterpenoids, antipacids A () and B (), with a novel bicyclo[5.2.0] core skeleton, and known compound clovane-2β,9α-diol (), along with rumphellolide L (), an esterified product of and , were isolated from the organic extract of octocoral .

Briarenols I-K, New Anti-inflammatory 8,17-Epoxybriaranes from the Octocoral (Briareidae).

Five 8,17-epoxybriaranes, including three new compounds-briarenols I-K (-), along with two known analogues, briaexcavatolide P () and briaexcavatin P (), were isolated from the octocoral . The structures of briaranes - were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR studies and (+)-HRESIMS. Briarane exerted inhibition effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) release from RAW 264.

Geographical and temporal origins of Neocaridina species (Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae) in Taiwan.

Background: The freshwater species on Taiwan Island have been documented to have originated from mainland China and the Japanese islands from multiple events and by multiple colonization routes. Moreover, the sequences from the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) have been used for DNA barcoding to identify the species. This study used the COI sequences to identify Neocaridina species in Taiwan and to examine their geographical and temporal origins.

New 8-Hydroxybriaranes from the Gorgonian Coral (Ellisellidae).

Three new 8-hydroxybriaranes-fragilides R-T (-) were obtained from a sea whip gorgonian coral . The structures of briaranes - were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods, including 1D (H and C NMR), 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments) NMR studies, and (+)-HRESIMS. Fragilides S and T ( and ) are the only briaranes known to possess 8α-hydroxy and 17β-methyl groups, respectively.

New Furanocembranoids from .

Three new furanocembranoids-briaviodiol F () and briaviotriols A () and B ()-along with a known analogue, briaviodiol A (), were obtained from a cultured-type octocoral . The structures of cembranoids ⁻ were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods. In vitro study demonstrated that compounds and exerted inhibition effects on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) release from RAW 264.

Natural Product Chemistry of Gorgonian Corals of Genus ⁻Part III.

The structures, names, bioactivities, and references of 82 natural products, including 48 new metabolites, purified from the gorgonian corals belonging to the genus are described in this review. All compounds mentioned in this review were obtained from , , , and sp., collected from tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean.

Genetic variation of the land-locked freshwater shrimp Caridina pseudodenticulata (Decapoda: Atyidae: Caridina) in Taiwan.

Caridina pseudodenticulata is a land-locked freshwater shrimp, which is endemic to North and West Taiwan. It is listed as Vulnerable under criteria A1ce in the IUCN Red List. Our study used mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene to examine its genetic structure.

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.

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

Columnaristerol A (1), a rare natural 19-norsterol possessing a 10β-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 marine sterols from an algal-bearing gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp.

Four new marine sterols, (22E,24R)-ergosta-5,22-diene-3β,11α-diol (1), (24S)-ergosta-5-ene-3β,11α-diol (2), 5α,6α-epoxy-23-demethylgorgost-8-ene-3β,7α-diol (3), and 5α,6α-epoxy-23-demethylgorgost-8(14)-ene-3β,7α-diol (4), along with a known metabolite, 23-demethylgorgost-7-ene-3β,5α,6β-triol (5), were isolated from an algal-bearing gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp., collected off the waters of Taiwan. The structures of these sterols were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

Pubinernoid A and Apo-9'-fucoxanthinone, Secondary Metabolites from a Gorgonian Coral Pinnigorgia sp.

The structures of pubinernoid A (1) and apo-9'-fucoxanthinone (2), isolated from a gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp., were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of known compounds. This is the first report of 1 and 2 from an animal source.

Persistent organic pollutants in the Antarctic coastal environment and their bioaccumulation in penguins.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been identified in penguins, lichens, soils, and ornithogenic soils in the Antarctic coastal environment in this study. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has reported PBDD/F and PBB data from Antarctica. The POP mass contents in penguins were in the following order: PCBs >> PBDEs >> PCDD/Fs; PCBs were the dominant pollutants (6310-144,000 pg/g-lipid), with World Health Organization toxic equivalency values being 2-14 times higher than those of PCDD/Fs.

Different strategies of energy storage in cultured and freshly isolated Symbiodinium sp.

The endosymbiotic relationship between cnidarians and Symbiodinium is critical for the survival of coral reefs. In this study, we developed a protocol to rapidly and freshly separate Symbiodinium from corals and sea anemones. Furthermore, we compared these freshly-isolated Symbiodinium with cultured Symbiodinium to investigate host and Symbiodinium interaction.

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.

Pinnisterols A-C, New 9,11-Secosterols from a Gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp.

Three new 9,11-secosterols, pinnisterols A-C (1-3), were isolated from a gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp., collected off the waters of Taiwan. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods.

Trocheliolide A, a Hydroperoxycembranoidal Diterpene from the Octocoral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum.

A new hydroperoxycembranoidal diterpene, trocheliolide A (1), was isolated from the octocoral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods.

New Cytotoxic 24-Homoscalarane Sesterterpenoids from the Sponge Ircinia felix.

Two new 24-homoscalarane sesterterpenoids, felixins F (1) and G (2), were isolated from the sponge Ircinia felix. The structures of new homoscalaranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, particularly with one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) NMR, and, by comparison, the spectral data with those of known analogues. The cytotoxicity of 1 and 2 against the proliferation of a limited panel of tumor cell lines was evaluated and 1 was found to show cytotoxicity toward the leukemia K562, MOLT-4, and SUP-T1 cells (IC50 ≤ 5.

Terpenoids from the Octocoral Sinularia gaweli.

Two eudesmane sesquiterpenoids, verticillatol (1) and 5α-acetoxy-4(14)-eudesmene-1β-ol (2) and two cembrane diterpenoids, (-)-leptodiol acetate (3) and sinulacembranolide A (4) were isolated from the octocoral Sinularia gaweli and compounds 2-4 are new isolates. The structures of new terpenoids 2-4 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by comparison the spectral data with those of known analogues. Terpenoid 4 was found to inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.

New Scalarane Sesterterpenoids from the Formosan Sponge Ircinia felix.

Five new scalarane sesterterpenoids, felixins A-E (1-5), were isolated from the Formosan sponge Ircinia felix. The structures of scalaranes 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Cytotoxicity of scalaranes 1-5 against the proliferation of a limited panel of tumor cell lines was evaluated.

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.

Norcembranoidal diterpenes from the cultured-type octocoral Sinularia numerosa.

A known norcembranoidal diterpene, 5-episinuleptolide (1), along with a new analogue, 4α-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.

Rumphellaoic acid A, a novel sesquiterpenoid from the formosan gorgonian coral Rumphella antipathies.

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.