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Laurencia undulata, as one of the most biologically active species in the genus Laurencia, is an edible folk herb red algae. Among them, d-isofloridoside (DIF, 940.68 Da) is isolated from Laurencia undulata, which has antioxidant and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) inhibitory activities. However, its mechanism of action on tumor angiogenesis has not yet been reported. In this study, we have studied the mechanism of DIF on tumor metastasis and angiogenesis in HT1080 cell and human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC). The results show that DIF can reduce the activity of MMP-2/9, and can inhibit the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by regulating the downstream PI3K/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathways, thereby down-regulating the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in CoCl2-induced HT1080 cell. In addition, DIF can inhibit the activation of VEGF receptor (VEGFR-2), regulate downstream PI3K/AKT, MAPK, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathways, activate apoptosis, and thus down-regulate the production of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in VEGF-induced HUVEC. In conclusion, our research shows that DIF has the potential to develop into a tumor-preventing functional food and tumor angiogenesis inhibitor, and it can provide theoretical guidance for the high-value comprehensive utilization of edible red algae Laurencia undulata.

[Image: see text] Despite numerous advances in spectroscopic methods through the latter part of the 20th century, the unequivocal structure determination of natural products can remain challenging, and inevitably, incorrect structures appear in the literature. Computational methods that allow the accurate prediction of NMR chemical shifts have emerged as a powerful addition to the toolbox of methods available for the structure determination of small organic molecules. Herein, we report the structure determination of a small, stereochemically rich natural product from Laurencia majuscula using the powerful combination of computational methods and total synthesis, along with the structure confirmation of notoryne, using the same approach. Additionally, we synthesized three further diastereomers of the L. majuscula enyne and have demonstrated that computations are able to distinguish each of the four synthetic diastereomers from the 32 possible diastereomers of the natural product. Key to the success of this work is to analyze the computational data to provide the greatest distinction between each diastereomer, by identifying chemical shifts that are most sensitive to changes in relative stereochemistry. The success of the computational methods in the structure determination of stereochemically rich, flexible organic molecules will allow all involved in structure determination to use these methods with confidence.

Chemical investigation of the red alga Laurencia tristicha led to the discovery of eight new halogenated chamigrane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-8) and one new bromocuparane-type sesquiterpene (9), along with nine known related metabolites (10-18). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the absolute configurations of 1-8 were proposed by comparison to the biosynthetically related known compound 12. Cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities of these isolates were also investigated. The results showed that compound 11 exhibited good antibacterial activity against Serratia marcescens compared to the positive control ampicillin at a dosage of 100 μg/disk. Compound 17 showed strong inhibition toward elastase release generation at 10 μM.

Herein is presented a cohesive strategy to rapidly fashion diverse members of the lauroxocane family of natural products, leading to the shortest syntheses of any member to date. These efforts include racemic formal total syntheses of laurefucin and E- and Z-pinnatifidenyne as well as a facile preparation of the oxocene core of 3E-dehydrobromolaurefucin. The key elements of the design are novel diastereoselective ring-expanding bromoetherifications of tetrahydrofurans triggered by a unique bromonium source (BDSB, Et(2)SBr·SbBrCl(5)) and strategically positioned nucleophilic traps, where altering the identity and position of these traps affords diverse functionality on the eight-membered ring backbone. Its biogenetic relevance is also discussed in light of the range of substrates that successfully undergo this key rearrangement.

A unique procedure to effect a ring-expanding bromoetherification process is described, wherein tetrahydrofurans and tetrahydropyrans are smoothly transformed into 8- and 9-membered bromoethers in a regio- and stereocontrolled manner through the use of BDSB (bromodiethylsulfonium bromopentachloroantimonate). These products resemble the cores of the Laurencia C15 acetogenins. In light of the generality and effectiveness of the approach, this work provides a unique strategy for their laboratory preparation and may implicate a possible biosynthesis pathway.

Eight new halogenated C(15) acetogenins, 1-8, were isolated from the organic extract of the red alga Laurencia marilzae. The structure elucidation and the assignments of the relative configurations were established by extensive use of spectroscopic studies, particularly 1D and 2D NMR data, while the absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, along with the previously reported related cyclic ether obtusallene IV (9), were evaluated against six human solid tumor cell lines. All compounds were found to be essentially inactive (GI(50)10 μg/mL).

Seven new (1-7) and seven previously reported (8-14) halogenated metabolites were isolated from the organic extract of the Brazilian red alga Laurencia catarinensis. The structure elucidation and the assignment of the relative configurations of the new natural products were based on detailed NMR and MS spectroscopic analyses, whereas the structure of metabolite 6 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configuration of metabolite 1 was determined using the modified Mosher's method. The in vitro cytotoxicity of compounds 1-14 was evaluated against HT29, MCF7, and A431 cell lines.

Four new halogenated nonterpenoid C(15)-acetogenins, 4:7,6:13-bisepoxy-9,10-diol-1,12-dibromopentadeca-1,2-diene (1, laurendecumallene A), 4:7,6:12-bisepoxy-9,10-diol-1,13-dibromopentadeca-1,2-diene (2, laurendecumallene B), (3Z)-6:10,7:13-bisepoxy-12-bromo-9-hydroperoxylpentadeca-3-en-1-yne (3, laurendecumenyne A), and (3Z)-6:10,9:13-bisepoxy-12-bromo-7-chloropentadeca-3-en-1-yne (4, laurendecumenyne B), together with one known halogenated C(15)-acetogenin elatenyne (5) were isolated and identified from the organic extract of the marine red alga Laurencia decumbens. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were established by means of spectroscopic analysis including UV, IR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. All these metabolites were submitted for the cytotoxic assay against tumor cell line A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), but all of them were found inactive (IC(50)10 microg/mL).

Four new sesquiterpenes, (8R)-8-bromo-10-epi-beta-snyderol (1), (8S)-8-bromo-beta-snyderol (2), 5-bromo-3-(3'-hydroxy-3'-methylpent-4'-enylidene)-2,4,4-trimethylcyclohexanone (3), and the epoxide 4, have been isolated from the chloroform-methanol extract of Laurencia obtusa, together with the three known compounds alpha-snyderol (5), alpha-snyderol acetate (6), and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 showed antimalarial activity, with IC(50) values of 2700 and 4000 ng/mL against the D6 and W2 clones of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively.

Two labdane type brominated diterpenes (1 and 2) containing unprecedented eight- and seven-membered ether rings have been isolated from the organic extract of the red alga Laurencia obtusa, collected from Mitikas Bay in the Ionean Sea, Greece. The structures of the new natural products, as well as their relative stereochemistry, were established by means of spectral data analysis, including 2D NMR experiments.

Extraction of a sample of Laurencia luzonensis collected off the coast of Kudaka Island, Okinawa, yielded the known sesquiterpenes palisol (1), palisadin B (2), palisadin A (3), pacifigorgiol (4), and aplysistatin (5), together with five new bromosesquiterpenes, isopalisol (6), luzonensol (7), luzonensol acetate (8), luzonensin (9), and (3Z,6E)-1-bromo-2-hydroxy-3,7,11-trimethyldodeca-3,6,10-triene (10). In addition, a new bromoditerpene of unusual structure, 3-bromobarekoxide (11), possessing a seven-membered ring fused to trans-decalin, was isolated.

Three distinct samples of the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela from two different locations around Tenerife (Spain) were investigated for their secondary metabolite content. The investigation resulted in the isolation of five new natural products (1, 2, 5-7), a number of compounds known from red algae of the genera Laurencia (4, 8-14) and Plocamium (17-19), and three known sea-hare metabolites (3, 15, 16). This is the first report of monoterpenes (17-19) from A. dactylomela. All structures were determined mainly by spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR, MS, IR). Compounds 11, 14, 15, and 17 demonstrated significant cytotoxicity toward three cancer cell lines (HM02, HEP G2, and MCF 7; IC(50) for 11, 7.0 to1.0 microg/mL; 14,1.0 microg/mL; 15, 17 to1.0 microg/mL; 17, 1.0 to 1.5 microg/mL). Compounds 3, 8, 9, 11, 15, 18, and 19 exhibited activity in a brine shrimp bioassay in the range of 100% lethality within 24 h to 40% after 48 h. Metabolites 11, 14, 15, and 19 showed moderate antimicrobial activities (2-25 mm total/growth inhibition of several organisms), with 19 also being strongly algicidal (MIC 7-11 microg/filter disk).

The structure of tetracyclic natural sesquiterpene laurentristich-4-ol was revised based on its synthetic studies. The proposed and the revised structures of laurentristich-4-ol were both synthesized with SmI(2)-mediated ketyl radical cyclization as the key step to construct the spirocyclic ether skeleton.

One new laurane sesquiterpenoid, 3beta-hydroxyaplysin (2), and two novel rearranged sesquiterpenes, laurokamurenes A (3) and B (4), together with three known related compounds, 3alpha-hydroxydebromoaplysin (1), debromoaplysin (6), and laurinterol (7), have been isolated from the Chinese red alga Laurencia okamurai. Their structures, including relative stereochemistry, were determined on the basis of detailed interpretation of 2D NMR spectra and comparison with related known compounds.

A short total synthesis of (+/-)-trans-kumausyne is reported. Key steps include a tandem ring-opening-ring-closing metathesis and the effective introduction of the pentenyl side chain by allylation-cross metathesis. [reaction: see text]

Five new sulfur-containing polybromoindoles, 2-methylsulfinyl-3-methylthio-4,5,6-tribromoindole (1), 3-methylsulfinyl-2,4,6-tribromoindole (2), 4,6-dibromo-2,3-di(methylsulfinyl)indole (3), 3,3'-bis(2'-methylsulfinyl-2-methylthio-4,6,4',6'-tetrabromo)indole (4), and 3,3-bis(4,6-dibromo-2-methylsulfinyl)indole (5), as well as seven known sulfur-containing polybromoindoles, 3-methylthio-2,4,6-tribromoindole (6), 3-methylthio-2,4,5,6-tetrabromoindole (7), 4,6-dibromo-2,3-di(methylthio)indole (8), 2,3-di(methylthio)-4,5,6-tribromoindole (9), 4,6-dibromo-2-methylsulfinyl-3-(methylthio)indole (10), 4,6-dibromo-2-(methylthio)indole (11), and 3,3-bis(4,6-dibromo-2-methylthio)indole (12), have been isolated from the Formosan red alga Laurencia brongniartii. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analysis, and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells was measured in vitro.

The red alga Laurencia flexibilis, collected from Philippine waters, yielded five new sesquiterpenoid merabolites, 3,4-epoxypalisadin A [1],5β-acetoxypalisadin A [2], 12-bromopalisadin B [3], palisadin C [4], and 5β-hydroxypalisadin B [5]. The known metabolites 6-10 were also isolated. The unambiguous assignments of 1 H- and 13 C-nmr spectral data for compounds 7 and 8 are reported for the first time

An efficient, sterocontrolled entry to the dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring system of (±)-kumausalkene has been developed. This synthesis buids upon our general strategy for preparing C 15 halogenated tetrahydrofuranoid marine lipids using the ring-enlarging tetrahydrofuran annulation of cyclic, allylic diols as the central step. A key intermediate, hydrobenzofuranone 8, is available with complete sterocontrol form the Lewis acid-catalized condensation of 1-vinylcyclopentanediol (4) and α-(benzoyloxy)acetaldehyde (Scheme II)

A general strategy for the synthesis of C 15 halogenated tetrahydrofuranoid lipids from red algae of the genus Laurencia has been developed. The central step is the convenient formation of hydrobenzofuranone (±)-5 on a large scale, and with complete stereocontrol, from the acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-vinylcyclopentanediol (3) and α-(benzyloxy) acetaldehyde (Scheme II). Starting with the chiral, nonracemic (1S,2R)-diol 3, hydrobenzofuranone (-)-5 is also available in good enantiomeric purity (Scheme V). The total synthesis of (±)-trans-kumausyne from rac-5 is accomplished in 13 steps and >5% overall yield

A new cytotoxic tribrominated chamigrene with a dibromohydrin functionality was isolated from an undetermined species of red alga, Laurencia sp. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods.

Seven new sesquiterpenes (1-7), together with seven known sesquiterpenes, aplysin (8), aplysinol (9), gossonorol (10), 7,10-epoxy-ar-bisabol-11-ol (11), 10-epi-7,10-epoxy-ar-bisabol-11-ol (12), johnstonol (13), and laurebiphenyl (14), have been isolated from the red alga Laurencia tristicha. The structures of new compounds were established as laur-11-en-2,10-diol (1), laur-11-en-10-ol (2), laur-11-en-1,10-diol (3), 4-bromo-1,10-epoxylaur-11-ene (4), cyclolauren-2-ol (5), laurentristich-4-ol (6), and ar-bisabol-9-en-7,11-diol (7) by means of spectroscopic methods including IR, HRMS, and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Compound 6 possessed a novel rearranged skeleton. All compounds were tested against several human cancer cell lines including lung adenocarcinoma (A549), stomach cancer (BGC-823), hepatoma (Bel 7402), colon cancer (HCT-8), and HELA cell lines. Laurebiphenyl (14) showed moderate cytotoxicity against all tested cell lines, with IC(50) values of 1.68, 1.22, 1.91, 1.77, and 1.61 microg/mL, respectively. Other compounds were inactive (IC(50)10 microg/mL).

This research was supported by the DGICYT (PB92-0489, PB95-0751), the Human Capital and Mobility Program (ERBCHRXCT93-0288) of the European Community, and the Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes del Gobierno de Canarias. J.M.B. thanks the M.E.C. and T.M. the Gobierno Autónomo de Canarias for a fellowship.

The compound was isolated from ethanol extracts of the red seaweed Laurencia poitei(Lamouroux) Howe by extensive liquid chromatography on ..mu..-Porasil. The structure of the compound, established by x-ray crystallography, belongs to the chiral, monoclinic space group P/sub 2/ with a = 9.412(6), b = 17.489(8), c = 9.721(3)A, and ..beta.. = 114.69(4)/sup 0/. A calculated and observed density of 1.09 g/cm/sup 3/ (Z = 4) indicated that two molecules of C/sub 15/H/sub 26/O/sub 2/ form the asymmetric unit. Poitediol is an unusual sesquiterpene with a trans-fused bicyclo(6.30)undecane. The five-membered ring is in the envelope conformation with C(8) as the flap(0.615A) removed from the plane of atoms C(1), C(11), C(10), and C(9). The eight-membered ring does not assume any simple conformation. Molecular distances and angles are generally in agreement with accepted values. A computer-generated perspective drawing is also included.

The structure of a unique diterpene hydroperoxide, isolated from extracts of the red seaweed Laurencia snyderiae (Dawson) is reported. (JSR)