Sinuscalide A: An Antiviral Norcembranoid with an 8/8-Fused Carbon Scaffold from the South China Sea Soft Coral .

Sinuscalide A (), featuring an uncommon 8/8-fused carbon scaffold, three new norditerpenes, sinuscalides B-D (-), and sinuscatone A (), with a 5/4/9 tricyclic carbon ring system, along with four known compounds were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral . The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD). A plausible biosynthetic pathway for was proposed.

New alkylated benzoquinones from mangrove plant with anticancer activity.

Three new alkylated benzoquinones, 2-hydroxy-5-ethoxy-3-nonyl-1,4-benzoquinone (), 5--butyl-embelin (), and 2,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-pentadecyl-1,4-benzoquinone (), together with seven known analogues (-), were isolated from the stems and twigs of mangrove plant, . Their structural elucidation was achieved by spectroscopic methods, chemical exchanging experiments, and semisynthesis method. The cytotoxic activities of all the isolated compounds were evaluated by MTT assay.

Antioxidant xanthones and anthraquinones isolated from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor.

Chemical examination of an EtOAc extract of cultured Aspergillus versicolor fungus from deep-sea sediments resulted in the isolation of four xanthones, eight anthraquinones and five alkaloids, including a new xanthone, oxisterigmatocystin D (1) and a new alkaloid, aspergillusine A (13). High resolution electron impact mass spectrometry (HR-EI-MS), FT-IR spectroscopy, and NMR techniques were used to elucidate the structures of these compounds, and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was established by its NMR features and coupling constant. Furthermore, the biosynthesis pathway of these xanthones and anthraquinones were deduced, and their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity in human cancer cell lines (HTC-8, Bel-7420, BGC-823, A549, and A2780) were evaluated.

Four new minor brominated indole related alkaloids with antibacterial activities from Laurencia similis.

Four new minor brominated indole related alkaloids (one indoles, 1, one 1,3-dihydro-indole-2-one, 2, one carbazole, 3, and one 2-carbonylamino-benzoate, 4) were isolated and identified from Laurencia similis by extensive chromatographic and spectrometric methods. Among them, 1 and 2 were the first example of naturally occurring indole with 3-benzyl group and 1,3-dihydro-indole-2-one with 2-isopropylidene group, respectively, whereas 3 and 4 were the first carbazole alkaloids and 2-carbonylamino-benzoate, respectively, isolated from the genus Laurencia. Moreover, 1 showed the most potent antibacterial activity against seven bacterial strains with MIC values ranging from 2 to 8μg/mL.

Cladosporinone, a new viriditoxin derivative from the hypersaline lake derived fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides.

A new cytotoxic viriditoxin derivative, cladosporinone (1), along with the known viriditoxin (2) and two viriditoxin derivatives (3 and 4) were obtained from the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides isolated from the sediment of a hypersaline lake in Egypt. The structure of the new compound (1) was determined by 1D and 2D NMR measurements as well as by high-resolution ESIMS and electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy. All isolated compounds were studied for their cytotoxicity against the murine lymphoma cell line L5187Y and for their antibiotic activity against several pathogenic bacteria.

Varioxiranols I-L, new lactones from a sponge-associated Emericella variecolor fungus.

Chemical examination of the sponge-associated fungus Emericella variecolor resulted in the isolation of four new lactones namely varioxiranols I-L(1-4)with different scaffolds, together with asteltoxin (5) and asteltoxin B (6). The structure elucidation of new compounds was accomplished by spectroscopic analysis, while the absolute configurations were determined by computed circular dichroism (ECD) and induced CD effects. Antitumor activities of these compounds were evaluated against different tumor cell lines, while the result indicated that the new compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against a panel of tumor cell lines.

New C13 lipids from the marine-derived fungus Trichoderma harzianum.

Chemical examination of the fermentation broth of a sponge-associated fungus Trichoderma harzinum HMS-15-3 led to the isolation of four pairs of new C13 lipid enantiomers namely harzianumols A-H (1a-4b). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (IR, MS, 1D, and 2D NMR) data analysis, including the modified Mosher's method for the assignment of their absolute configurations. The new compounds were evaluated for antihyperlipidemic effects in HepG2 cells.

Flavonoids from Stellaria nemorum and Stellaria holostea.

Stellaria nemorum L. and S. holostea L.

Jaspiferins C-F, four new isomalabaricane-type triterpenoids from the South China Sea sponge Jaspisstellifera.

A chemical investigation of marine sponge Jaspis stellifera, collected from the South China Sea, led to the isolation of four new isomalabaricane-type triterpenoids, jaspiferins C-F (1-4). The structures of those compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. Jaspiferin C (1), which has the six-membered carbon ring at the side chain, was discovered for the first time from the isomalabaricane-type triterpenoids.

Cytotoxic and protein kinase inhibiting nakijiquinones and nakijiquinols from the sponge Dactylospongia metachromia.

Chemical investigation of the sponge Dactylospongia metachromia afforded five new sesquiterpene aminoquinones (1-5), two new sesquiterpene benzoxazoles (6 and 7), the known analogue 18-hydroxy-5-epi-hyrtiophenol (8), and a known glycerolipid. The structures of all compounds were unambiguously elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR and by MS analyses, as well as by comparison with the literature. Compounds 1-5 showed potent cytotoxicity against the mouse lymphoma cell line L5178Y with IC50 values ranging from 1.

Pro-apoptotic and immunostimulatory tetrahydroxanthone dimers from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis longicolla.

Four tetrahydroxanthone dimers (1-4) and four biogenetically related monomers (5-8), including the new derivatives 4-6, were isolated from the endophyte Phomopsis longicolla. The absolute configurations of 2-4 were established for the first time by TDDFT electronic circular dichroism calculations, and that of phomoxanthone A (1) was revised by X-ray crystallography. Phomoxanthone A (1) showed the strongest pro-apoptotic activity when tested against a panel of human cancer cell lines, including cisplatin-resistant cells, whereas it was up to 100-fold less active against healthy blood cells.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of furanodiene W/O/W multiple emulsions in rats by a fast and sensitive HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method.

A sensitive and specific HPLC-APCI-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of furanodiene, a natural antitumor compound in rat plasma and tissues. W/O/W multiple emulsions of furanodiene, identified through microscope-observation and eosin staining method, were prepared with a two-step-procedure. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution were studied in rats after oral, intraperitoneal and intravenous injection with the dose of 5, 10 and 50 mg/kg, respectively.

Atropisomeric dihydroanthracenones as inhibitors of multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Two bisdihydroanthracenone atropodiastereomeric pairs, including homodimeric flavomannin A (1) and the previously unreported flavomannin B (2), two new unsymmetrical dimers (3 and 4), and two new mixed dihydroanthracenone/anthraquinone dimers (5 and 6) were isolated from Talaromyces wortmannii , an endophyte of Aloe vera . The structures of 2-6 were elucidated by extensive NMR and mass spectrometric analyses. The axial chirality of the biaryls was determined using TDDFT ECD and VCD calculations, the combination of which however did not allow the assignment of the central chirality elements of 1.

Kandenols A-E, eudesmenes from an endophytic Streptomyces sp. of the mangrove tree Kandelia candel.

Five novel eudesmene-type sesquiterpenes, kandenols A-E (1-5), have been isolated from Streptomyces sp. HKI0595 derived from the mangrove plant Kandelia candel. Their structures were established through NMR and mass spectrometry, and absolute configurations were established by the Mosher method and comparison of CD spectra with α-rotunol and β-rotunol.

Identification and characterization of an anti-fibrotic benzopyran compound isolated from mangrove-derived Streptomyces xiamenensis.

An anti-fibrotic compound produced by Streptomycesn xiamenensis, found in mangrove sediments, was investigated for possible therapeutic effects against fibrosis. The compound, N-[[3,4-dihydro-3S-hydroxy-2S-methyl-2-(4'R-methyl-3'S-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-yl]carbonyl]-threonine (1), was isolated from crude extracts and its structure, including the absolute configuration was determined by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, Mosher's method, Marfey's reagent and quantum mechanical calculations. In terms of biological effects, this compound inhibits the proliferation of human lung fibroblasts (WI26), blocks adhesion of human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) to a monolayer of WI26 cells, and reduces the contractile capacity of WI26 cells in three-dimensional free-floating collagen gels.

Structure-activity relationship of halophenols as a new class of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

A series of new benzophenone and diphenylmethane halophenol derivatives were prepared. Their structures were established based on (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and HRMS data. All prepared compounds were screened for their in vitro protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitory activities.

A family of multicyclic indolosesquiterpenes from a bacterial endophyte.

Three novel indolosesquiterpenes, xiamycin B (1b), indosespene (2), and sespenine (3), along with the known xiamycin A (1a) were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. HKI0595, a bacterial endophyte of the widespread mangrove tree Kandelia candel. Agar diffusion assays revealed moderate to strong antimicrobial activities against several bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, while no cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines was observed.

Pestalotiopamide E, a new amide from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp.

Chemical examination of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp., isolated from the leaves of the Chinese mangrove Rhizophora mucronata, yielded a new amide called pestalotiopamide E (1). The structure of the new compound was unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis.

Xiamycin, a pentacyclic indolosesquiterpene with selective anti-HIV activity from a bacterial mangrove endophyte.

A novel pentacyclic indolosesquiterpene, named xiamycin (1), and its methyl ester (2) have been obtained from Streptomyces sp. GT2002/1503, an endophyte from the mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. The structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography, and the absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated by the modified Mosher method.

Norisoprenoids from the marine sponge Spheciospongia sp.

Chemical examination of a marine sponge Spheciospongia sp. collected from South China Sea resulted in the isolation of five norisoprenoid derivatives (1-5), of which two new compounds were designated with trivial names of spheciospongones A (1) and B (2). Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR, and MS spectroscopic data analysis in association with circular dichroism.

Phenolic compounds and their anti-oxidative properties and protein kinase inhibition from the Chinese mangrove plant Laguncularia racemosa.

Phenolic compounds, named integracin D (1), (7'R, 8'S, 8S)-8-hydroxyisoguaiacin (3), (2R, 3R) pinobanksin-3-caffeoylate (5) and threo-8S-7-methoxysyringylglycerol (6), respectively, were isolated from the Chinese mangrove plant Laguncularia racemosa (L) Gaertn. f. (Combretaceae), together with 23 known phenolic metabolites.

[Effects of cembrane-type diterpenes on proliferation of PC12 cells and their antagonistic effects on neurotoxicity induced by glutamate].

Objective: To investigate the effects of cembrane-type diterpenes extracted from Sinularia flexibilis on the proliferation of PC12 cells and their protective effects on PC12 cells exposed to glutamate.

Methods: Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was adopted to observe the effects of cembrane-type diterpenes (compound 1, compound 2 and compound 3) on the proliferation of PC12 cells. And the protective effects of the three compounds on PC12 cells exposed to glutamate were also detected by MTT.

[Isolation and identification of compounds from marine mangrove plant Avicennia marina].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents from Avicennia marina.

Methods: The isolation and purification of the CH2Cl2 and n-BuOH fractions of this plant were performed, and the chemical structures were elucidated by spectral analysis as well as comparison of their spectral data with literature values.

Results: Three novel compounds were obtained and identified as erythro-guaiacylglycerol-beta-ferulic acid ether (1), marinnone A (16) and marinnone B (17), along with eighteen known compounds as threo-guaiacylglycerol-beta-ferulic acid ether (2), eleutheroside E2 (3), (+)-lirioresinol A (4), dihydroxymethyl-bis (3, 5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) tetrahydrofuran-9-O-beta-glucopyranoside (5), (+)-lyoniresinol 3a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), (-)-lyoniresinol 3a-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), epi-pinoresinol (8), leucoseceptoside A (9), jionoside C (10), salsaside A (11), ilicifolioside A (12), acteoside (13), isoacteoside (14), ethyl ferulate (15), avicennone D (18), avicenone E (19), avicennol C (20), and stenocarpoquinone B (21).

Bioactive metabolites from the endophytic fungus Stemphylium globuliferum isolated from Mentha pulegium.

The endophytic fungus Stemphylium globuliferum was isolated from stem tissues of the Moroccan medicinal plant Mentha pulegium. Extracts of the fungus, which was grown on solid rice medium, exhibited considerable cytotoxicity when tested in vitro against L5178Y cells. Chemical investigation yielded five new secondary metabolites, alterporriol G (4) and its atropisomer alterporriol H (5), altersolanol K (11), altersolanol L (12), stemphypyrone (13), and the known compounds 6-O-methylalaternin (1), macrosporin (2), altersolanol A (3), alterporriol E (6), alterporriol D (7), alterporriol A (8), alterporriol B (9), and altersolanol J (10).