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Fourteen polyhydroxylated steroids including six new compounds, ehrensteroids A - F (1-6), were isolated from the Vietnamese soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi after applying various chromatographic separations. The structure elucidation was done by detailed analysis of 1D, 2D NMR and HR QTOF mass spectra. In addition, significant cytotoxicity (IC 50 values ranging from 8.45 ± 0.56 to 38.27 ± 2.39 μM) against all five tested cancer cell lines as LU-1 (lung cancer), HepG2 (hepatoma cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer), HL-60 (acute leukemia), and SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma) was observed for compounds 1, 2, 6-10, and 12-14, whereas this activity on LU-1 (IC 50  = 21.91 ± 2.72 μM) and HepG2 (IC 50  = 20.32 ± 0.03 μM) cell lines was also observed for 4., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Four new steroids derivatives, namely arthriniumsteroids A - D (1-4), together with two known compounds, were isolated from the soft coral-derived fungus Simplicillium lanosoniveum SCSIO41212. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with those reported in the literature. The absolute configuration of 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In bioassay, all compounds showed weak inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Sinularia is one of the conspicuous soft coral species widely distributed in the world's oceans at a depth of about 12 m. Secondary metabolites from the genus Sinularia show great chemical diversity. More than 700 secondary metabolites have been reported to date, including terpenoids, norterpenoids, steroids/steroidal glycosides, and other types. They showed a broad range of potent biological activities. There were detailed reviews on the terpenoids from Sinularia in 2013, and now, it still plays a vital role in the innovation of lead compounds for drug development. The structures, names, and pharmacological activities of compounds isolated from the genus Sinularia from 2013 to March 2021 are summarized in this review.

Six new ( 1 , 2 , 6 , 8 , 13, and 20 ) and twenty previously isolated ( 3 - 5 , 7 , 9 - 12 , 14 - 19 , and 21 - 26 ) steroids featuring thirteen different carbocycle motifs were isolated from the organic extract of the soft coral Sinularia polydactyla collected from the Hurghada reef in the Red Sea. The structures and the relative configurations of the isolated natural products have been determined based on extensive analysis of their NMR and MS data. The cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and neuroprotective activity of compounds 3 - 7 , 9 - 12 , 14 - 20 , and 22 - 26 , as well as their effect on androgen receptor-regulated transcription was evaluated in vitro in human tumor and non-cancerous cells. Steroids 22 and 23 showed significant cytotoxicity in the low micromolar range against the HeLa and MCF7 cancer cell lines, while migration of endothelial cells was inhibited by compounds 11 , 12 , 22, and 23 at 20 µM. The results of the androgen receptor (AR) reporter assay showed that compound 11 exhibited the strongest inhibition of AR at 10 µM, while it is noteworthy that steroids 10 , 16, and 20 displayed increased inhibition of AR with decreasing concentrations. Additionally, compounds 11 and 23 showed neuroprotective activity on neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells.

Two new steroids, (22R,23S)-3β-hydroxy-23-methyl-17,20-epoxyergost-5-en-22-yl acetate and (22R,23S)-5-hydroperoxy-23-methyl-5α-17,20-epoxyergost-6-ene-3β,22-diol, were isolated from the South China Sea soft coral Lobophytum sp., together with two related known ones. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparing their spectral data with those previously reported. The structure of (22R,23S)-3β-hydroxy-23-methyl-17,20-epoxyergost-5-en-22-yl acetate was further confirmed through chemical correlation. All the isolates were evaluated for the in vitro inhibitory activity against NF-κB, a potential target for the treatment of cancer, and (22R,23S)-5-hydroperoxy-23-methyl-5α-17,20-epoxyergost-6-ene-3β,22-diol exhibited moderate inhibition activity with IC 50 value of 8.96 μg/mL., (© 2020 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

A new 9,11-secosteroid, (22R)-22-acetoxy-3β,6α,11-trihydroxy-9,11-seco-5α-cholest-7-en-9-one, along with twelve known analogues were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian coral Iciligorgia sp. Their structures were determined by the spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. In an in vitro test of osteoclastic differentiation, three compounds exhibited significant down-regulating effect whereas two compounds showed significant up-regulating effect at 0.5 and 1.0 μm. This is the first report of the chemical investigation of the gorgonian Iciligorgia sp. The acetoxy substitution at C-22 seems to play an important role in the regulating activity., (© 2020 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Three new oxygenated steroids, sinulasterols A-C (1-3), along with seven known related steroids 4-10, were isolated from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia depressa. The structures of the new compounds were established from extensive spectroscopic data analyses and by comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature. Among the new compounds, metabolites 1 and 2 featured on unusual C-18 oxygenated pattern. In the TNF-α bioassay, compound 4 exhibited a potent inhibitory activity (IC 50  = 12.1 μM), which was analogous to the positive control dexamethasone (IC 50  = 8.7 μM), metabolites 1 and 2 displayed a moderate inhibitory activity (IC 50 51.1 μM and 22.7 μM respectively)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Two new steroids, dendronesterones D ( 1 ) and E ( 2 ), featuring with 1,4-dienone moiety, along with three known steroids, methyl 3-oxochola-4,22-diene-24-oate ( 3 ), 5α,8α-epidioxy-24( S )- methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol ( 4 ), and 5α,8α-epidioxy-24( S )-methylcholesta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol ( 5 ), were isolated from an octocoral Dendronephthya sp. The structures of steroids 1 and 2 were elucidated by using spectroscopic methods and steroid 1 was found to exhibit significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of the iNOS protein.

Two new steroids, ximaosteroid E (1) and ximaosteroid F (2), along with two known related compounds (3 and 4), were isolated from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia sp. Notably, 1 possesses an uncommon dihydrofuran group. Their structures were established from extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparisons of their spectral data with those reported in the literature. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by applying the modified Mosher's method. In bioassay, compounds 1, 2, and 4 showed significant cytotoxicity against the HL-60 tumor cell line with IC 50 values of 1.79, 4.03 and 0.69 μM, respectively., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Six pregnane steroids including one new compound namely 15β-hydroxypregna-4,20-dien-3-one (1), were isolated and structurally elucidated from the octocoral Carijoa riisei. The cytotoxic activity against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines of isolated compounds was also evaluated by SRB method. As the results, 18-acetoxypregna-1,4,20-trien-3-one (5) showed significant cytotoxicity against all the tested cell lines with the IC 50 values from 22.29 ± 1.47 to 48.73 ± 3.93 μM, whereas 15β-acetoxypregna-1,4,20-trien-3-one (3) and 20R-acetoxypregna-1,4-dien-3-one (6) only exhibited weak effect on KB cell line with IC 50 values of 93.62 ± 7.32 and 71.38 ± 5.45 μM, respectively.

A c ontinuing chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of a reef soft coral Sinularia brassica , 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. The cytotoxicities of compounds 1-4 against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines were assayed. The anti-inflammatory activities of these new compounds 1-4 were also evaluated by measuring their ability to suppress superoxide anion generation and elastase release in N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced human neutrophils. Compounds 2 and 3 were shown to exhibit significant cytotoxicity, and compounds 3 and 4 were also found to display attracting anti-inflammatory activities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Twelve steroids, including five new compounds 1-5, were isolated and structurally elucidated from a methanol extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia conferta. Their cytotoxic effects against three human cancer cell lines, lung carcinoma (A-549), cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and pancreatic epithelioid carcinoma (PANC-1), were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Among isolated compounds, 10 exhibited potent cytotoxic effects on all three tested cell lines with IC 50 values of 3.64±0.18, 19.34±0.42, and 1.78±0.69 µM, respectively.

In the present study, a new ceramide, namely 2S, 3R-4E, 8E-2-(heptadecanoylamino)-heptadeca-4, 8-diene-1, 3-diol (1), along with four known steroids, including 24-methylcholesta-5, 24(28)-diene-3β-ol (2), 24-methylcholesta-5, 24(28)-diene-3β-acetate (3), 4-methyl-24-methylcholesta-22-ene-3-ol (4), and cholesterol, was isolated and characterized from CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH extract of Cespitularia stolonifera. A new acetate derivative of compound 1, termed 2S, 3R-4E, 8E-2-(heptadecanoylamino)-heptadeca-4, 8-diene-1, 3-diacetate (1a), was also prepared in the present study. All the structures were established on the basis of modern spectroscopic techniques, including FT-IR, 1D, 2D-NMR, HRESI-MS, and GC-MS, in addition of chemical methods. (-)-Alloaromadendren, ledane, (1)-alloaromadendren oxide, isoaromadendrene epoxide and (-)-caryophellen oxide were identified from the n-hexane fraction using GC-MS. The extract and the two ceramides (1) and (1a) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against lung cancer A549 cells, while the extract and the two steroids (2) and (3) exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against breast cancer MCF-7 cells. The CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH extract exhibited significant antiulcer activity in both ethanol and acetic acid induced ulcer models in rats, as evidenced by histopathological, histochemical, and biochemical examinations., (Copyright © 2017 China Pharmaceutical University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new 10-demethylated steroid, nephtheasteroid A (1), a new 19-oxygenated steroid, nephtheasteroid B (2) as well as five known steroids 3-7 were isolated from the organic extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Nephthea erecta. The structure was determined by means of IR, MS, and NMR techniques. Among these metabolites, 1 is rarely found in steroids possessing a 19-norergostane skeleton. In vitro cytotoxicity study using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that compounds 3 and 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against human chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562), human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Molt-4), human T lymphoblastoid (Sup-T1), and human leukemic monocyte lymphoma (U937), with IC 50 of 6.5-14.0 µM.

Six steroids (1-6), including the two new compounds 3β,4α-dihydroxyergosta-5,24(28)-diene (1) and 24(S),28-epoxyergost-5-ene-3β,4α-diol (2), were isolated from the methanol extract of the Vietnamese soft coral Sinularia nanolobata. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including one and two dimensional (1D- and 2D)-NMR, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR)-MS, and circular dichroism (CD). Compound 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the acute leukemia (HL-60) cell line with IC50 value of 33.53±4.25 µM and weak effect on the hepatoma cancer (HepG2) and colon adenocarcinoma (SW480) cell lines with IC50 values of 64.35±7.00 and 71.02±4.00 µM, respectively.

Four new steroids, namely klyflaccisteroids G-J (1-4) were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Klyxum flaccidum. The structures of compounds 1-4 were established by spectral data analysis (IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR) and comparison of spectral data with those of the related known compounds. Cytotoxicity assay revealed that 4 exhibited inhibition activity against the growth of HT-29, P388 and K562 cancer cell lines, whereas 2 showed selective cytotoxicity toward P388 cells. Compound 4 was also found to display significant anti-inflammatory activity for suppressing superoxide anion generation (O2(-)) and elastase release., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nephthea are soft coral species rich in sesquiterpenoids and steroids. An organic extract of Nephthea sp. resulted in the isolation of a new steroid (1), as well as several previously reported metabolites (2-9). Structures were elucidated by employing NMR and HR-EI-MS analyses. The total extract, fractions and purified compounds exhibited differential cytotoxicity against the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line.

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Lobophytum lobophytum collected from the Red Sea led to the isolation of a new compound gorgostan-5,25-dien-3β-ol (1), and two known compounds gorgosterol (2), and alismol (3). Structures were elucidated by employing extensive NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments.

Four new polyoxygenated sterol derivatives (1-4) along with the compounds (5-7) previously known from other biological sources were isolated from the gorgonian Menella woodin, collected from the Vietnamese waters. Structures of 1-4 were elucidated by the detailed NMR spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses as well as comparison with those reported in literature data. Compounds 1, 4, and 6 decrease the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the murine macrophages of RAW 264.7 line at induction by endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Four new polyhydroxylated steroids, 1-4, and the racemic form of cyclopentenone 9, together with four known steroids, 5-8, one known cyclopentenone derivative, 10, and one known butenolide derivative, 11, were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia acuta collected from Weizhou Island of Guangxi Province, P. R. China. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of the corresponding data with those previously reported. The cytotoxicities of the isolates 1-11 in vitro against the selected tumor cell lines HL-60, HeLa, and K562 were evaluated. Compounds 2 and 5 showed potent cytotoxicities against HL-60 cell lines with IC50 values of 7.3 and 9.9 μM, respectively. Compounds 5 and 6 showed moderate activities against K562 cell lines with IC50 values of 10.9 and 11.7 μM, respectively, while compounds 1, 2, and 6 showed weak activities against HeLa cell lines with respective IC50 values of 44.8, 27.1, and 18.2 μM. This is the first report on chemical and bioactivity research of S. acuta., (Copyright © 2015 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.)

A new 19-oxygenated steroid, 25-acetate-nebrosteroid K (1), and five known steroids (2-6), along with one known 19-hydroxy steroidal glycoside (7) were obtained from the gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea collected from the South China Sea. The structure and relative configuration of 1 were elucidated by using comprehensive spectroscopic data including NOESY spectra. Compound 1 represents the first example of 19-oxygenated steroid with a 19-oic acid methyl ester group isolated from gorgonians. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for lethal activity to brine shrimp Artemia salina and cytotoxicity against A549 and HL-60 cell lines. Among them, 1 showed strong lethality towards A. salina.

Chromatographic purification of the methanolic extract from the soft coral Sarcophyton pauciplicatum led to the isolation of three polyhydroxylated steroids 1-3, including a new compound, sarcopanol A (1). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of similar compounds previously reported in literature. The anti-inflammatory effects of isolated compounds were evaluated using nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) luciferase and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effect of isolated compounds on cell growth was evaluated by MTS assays. Compounds 1 and 2 significantly inhibited TNFα/INFγ-induced NF-κB transcriptional activity in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values of 8.27±3.28 and 26.07±5.59 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the transcriptional inhibition of these compounds was confirmed by a decrease in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression levels in HaCaT cells., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Four new steroids with an acetoxy linked at the end of the side chain, echrebsteroids A-D (1-4) were obtained from the South China Sea gorgonian Echinogorgia rebekka. The absolute configurations of 1-3 were determined using the modified Mosher's method on the hydrolysis products. The isolation of the pair of epimers (2 and 3) represents the first reported separation of C-25 epimers of 26-acetoxy steroids. The (25R)-epimer (3) exhibited promising antiviral activity against respiratory syncytial virus with an IC50 value of 0.19 μM and a comparatively higher therapeutic ratio (TC50/IC50 = 128).

Three pregnane-type steroids, including a new metabolite, 3β-methoxy-5,20-pregnadiene (1) along with two known analogues, 3β-acetoxy-5,20-pregnadiene (2) and 5α-pregna-1,20-dien-3-one (3) were isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya flexilis. Standard spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the structure of new steroid 1. The absolute stereochemistry of steroid 2 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Steroid 3 exhibited potent activity against MOLT-4 tumor cells.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Nephthea sp.., Methods: The constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography as well as HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis (NMR and MS) and their spectral data were compared with those of related steroids., Results: The compounds were isolated from the EtOAc fraction of Nephthea sp. 95% ethanol extract and identified as (17alpha)-pregnan-4-ene-3,20-dione(1), (20S)-pregnan-1,4-diene-3-oxo-20-carboxylic acid methyl ester(2), pregnan4-ene-3,6,20-trione(3), (20R)-pregnan-4,16-dien-20-hydroxy-3-one(4), pregnan-15beta-hydroxy4,6-diene-3,20-dione (5) and pregnan-4,6-diene-3, 20-dione (6), respectively., Conclusion: All the compounds are isolated from Nephthea sp. for the first time.

The gorgonian Echinogorgia sassapo reticulata contains two new bioactive polyhydroxylated steroids, sassapols A (1), B (2), and five related known compounds (3-7). Compound 6 has been encountered for the first time in natural sources. The structures of these new compounds were defined by spectroscopic analysis. All the compounds (1-7) isolated from E. sassapo reticulata were tested for anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 7 inhibited both the generation of leukotriene C₄ and the degranulation reaction in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

Chemical investigation on the soft coral Sarcophyton sp. collected from the South China Sea yielded three new polyhydroxylated steroids, compounds (1-3), together with seven known ones (4-10). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison of their data with those of the related known compounds. All the isolates possessed the 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxylated steroidal nucleus. The cytotoxicities against selected HL-60, HeLa and K562 tumor cell lines and anti-H1N1 (Influenza A virus (IAV)) activities for the isolates were evaluated. Compounds 2, 3 and 5-8 exhibited potent activities against K562 cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 6.4 to 10.3 μM. Compounds 1, 6-8 potently inhibited the growth of HL-60 tumor cell lines, and 6 also showed cytotoxicity towards HeLa cell lines. In addition, preliminary structure-activity relationships for the isolates are discussed. The OAc group at C-11 is proposed to be an important pharmacophore for their cytotoxicities in the 3β,5α,6β-triol steroids. Compounds 4 and 9 exhibited significant anti-H1N1 IAV activity with IC₅₀ values of 19.6 and 36.7 μg/mL, respectively.

Biofouling results in tremendous economic losses to maritime industries around the world. A recent global ban on the use of organotin compounds as antifouling agents has further raised demand for safe and effective antifouling compounds. In this study, 49 secondary metabolites, including diterpenoids, steroids, and polyketides, were isolated from soft corals, gorgonians, brown algae, and fungi collected along the coast of China, and their antifouling activity was tested against cyprids of the barnacle Balanus (Amphibalanus) amphitrite. Twenty of the compounds were found to inhibit larval settlement significantly at a concentration of 25 μg ml(-1). Two briarane diterpenoids, juncin O (2) and juncenolide H (3), were the most promising non-toxic antilarval settlement candidates, with EC50 values less than 0.13 μg ml(-1) and a safety ratio (LC50/EC50) higher than 400. A preliminary structure-activity relationships study indicated that both furanon and furan moieties are important for antifouling activity. Intriguingly, the presence of hydroxyls enhanced their antisettlement activity.

Three new 19-hydroxy steroidal glycosides, namely, junceellosides E-G (2-4), were isolated together with the known analogue junceelloside C (1) from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by a combination of detailed spectroscopic analyses, chemical methods, and comparison with reported data. These glycosides are found to have sugar moieties of both β-l- and β-d-arabinopyranoses by HPLC analysis of their thiocarbamoyl-thiazolidine derivatives and those of authentic d- and l-arabinoses, leading to the structure revision of junceelloside C (1). This is the first report of steroidal glycosides from the gorgonian D. gemmacea and the first report of glycosides with β-l-arabinopyranose from marine sources.

Seven new polyoxygenated steroids (1-7) were isolated together with seven known analogues (8-14) from the South China Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton sp. The structures of the new compounds were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. All the steroids are characterized with 3β,5α,6β-hydroxy moiety, displaying carbon skeletons of cholestane, ergostane, gorgostane and 23,24-dimethyl cholestane. In the in vitro bioassay, metabolites exhibited different levels of antimicrobial activity against bacterial species Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium, and fungal species Microbotryum violaceum and Septoria tritici. No inhibition was detected towards microalga Chlorella fusca. Preliminary structure-activity analysis suggests that the 11α-acetoxy group may increase both antibacterial and antifungal activities. The terminal-double bond and the cyclopropane moiety at the side chain may also contribute to the bioactivity.

Two new steroids, (2β,3β,4α,5α,8β)-4-methylergost-24(28)-ene-2,3,8-triol (1) and (3β,7α)-24-methyl-7-hydroperoxycholest-5,24(28)-diene-3-ol (2), together with 13 known analogues (3-15) were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia depressa Tixier-Durivault. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. In the bioassay in vitro, compounds 3a, 4, and 14 exhibited potent PTP1B inhibitory activity, being similar as that of positive control oleanolic acid. Compound 14 also displayed a notable neuroprotective activity against both amyloid-β(25-35)- and serum deprivation-induced injuries in SH-SY5Y cells while compound 11 showed a considerable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Preliminary structure-activity relationships of these steroids were discussed., (Crown Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chemical investigations on the EtOAc-soluble fractions from the EtOH extract of Formosa soft coral afforded a new 9,11-secosteroid, 8αH-3β,11-dihydroxy-5α,6α-expoxy-24-methylene-9,11-secocholestan-9-one (1), along with one known steroid 3β,11-dihydroxy-5β,6β-expoxy-24-methylene-9,11-secocholestan-9-one (2) from Sinularia granosa. The structure of the new metabolite was elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their NMR data with the known compounds, including 2. Both 1 and 2 were shown to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory inducible nitric oxide synthase protein, and 1 also was found to effectively reduce the level of cyclooxygenase-2 protein, in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells at 10 μM. Furthermore, cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines was also discovered., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In order to search for novel bioactive substances from marine organisms, we investigated the acetone extract of the soft coral Nephthea chabrolii collected at San-Hsian-Tai, Taitong County, Taiwan. From this extract three new 19-oxygenated steroids, nebrosteroids N-P (1-3) were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses.

Two new pentahydroxylated steroids, (3β,12β,16β,23E)-cholesta-5,23-diene-3,12,16,20,25-pentaol (1) and (3β,12β,16β)-cholesta-5,25(26)-diene-3,12,16,20,24-pentaol (2), were isolated from the EtOH extract of the South China Sea gorgonian Subergorgia suberosa. In addition, four known steroids were detected. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods and comparison of their data with those of the related known compounds. In addition, the cyctotoxicities of the compounds were evaluated against selected cancer cell lines., (Copyright © 2012 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.)

Seven new polyoxygenated steroids, hirsutosterols A-G (1-7), were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Cladiella hirsuta. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The absolute configurations of 1 and 5 were determined by Mosher's method. Sterols 4-6 possess hydroxy groups at C-9 and C-11 and might be oxidatively cleaved to the corresponding 9,11-secosterols. Hirsutosterol A (1) was found to exhibit a stronger cytotoxicity against a limited panel of cancer cell lines.

Two new steroids (1 and 2) and the known pregna-1,4,20-trien-3-one (3) have been isolated from the Pacific octocoral Carijoa multiflora. Compound 1 possesses a novel spiropregnane-based steroidal skeleton. The photochemical transformation of 3 into 1 allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration at C-10 of 1. The antibacterial activities of compounds 1 and 3 were evaluated against a panel of bacterial strains.

Eight new marine steroids, characterized by either the presence of an aromatic ring or a cross-conjugated dienone system in ring A, were isolated from the Hainan soft coral Dendronephthya studeri Ridley. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their NMR data with those reported in the literature.

In previous studies on the secondary metabolites of the Taiwanese octocoral Isis hippuris, specimens have always been collected at Green Island. In the course of our studies on bioactive compounds from marine organisms, the acetone-solubles of the Taiwanese octocoral I. hippuris collected at Orchid Island have led to the isolation of five new polyoxygenated steroids: hipposterone M-O (1-3), hipposterol G (4) and hippuristeroketal A (5). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic and physical data. The anti-HCMV (human cytomegalovirus) activity of 1-5 and their cytotoxicity against selected cell lines were evaluated. Compound 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against HCMV, with an EC(50) value of 6.0 μg/mL.

From the black coral Antipathies dichotoma, a sphingolipid (2S*,3S*,4E,8E)-2N-[tetradecanoyl]-4(E),8(E)-icosadiene-1,3-diol (1) and a steroid (22E)-methylcholesta-5,22-diene-1α,3β,7α-triol (2) were isolated. Other known compounds, 3β,7α-dihydroxy-cholest-5-ene (3), (22E,24S),5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methylcholesta-6,22-dien-3β-ol (4) and (22E,24S),5α,8α-epidioxy-24-methylcholesta-6,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (5). The structures were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature. The antibacterial activity of five compounds was evaluated.

A chemical investigation on a South China Sea gorgonian, Menella sp. resulted in the isolation and elucidation of menellin A (1), a highly oxygenated racemate with C(8) skeleton, and a polyhydroxylated steroid, menellsteroid C (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by means of MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and the relative stereochemistry of 1 was determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. In addition, compound 7 was isolated as a new natural product. Compounds 1-3 and 7 were selected to test the anti-inflammatory inhibition against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages. 1 and 3 exhibited modest inhibitory effects with IC(50) of 71.3, 33.9 µM, respectively, compared to the positive control aminoguanidine (IC(50) 25.0 µM).

Chemical investigation of the Formosan soft coral Nephthea chabroli resulted in the isolation of four new 19-oxygenated steroids, nebrosteroids I-L (1-4), together with a new 4alpha-methylated steroid, nebrosteroid M (5). The molecular structures of these isolated metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the data with those of related metabolites. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Eight new 4-methylated steroids, nebrosteroids A-H (1-8) were isolated from the acetone solubles of the Formosan soft coral Nephthea chabroli. The structures were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis and their anti-inflammatory activity was measured in vitro.

Recent studies show that chemical defenses in the exotic soft coral Chromonephthea braziliensis Ofwegen (Nephtheidae, Alcyonacea) can be one of the reasons for the success of this introduced species. We report for the first time the detailed composition of the monohydroxylated sterol fraction and a new hemiketal steroid, 23-keto-cladiellin-A, isolated from the unpalatable hexane extract from C. braziliensis. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract revealed that this hemiketal steroid exhibits potent feeding deterrent properties against a natural assemblage of fishes at the natural concentration. The major sterol fraction, containing the monohydroxylated sterols, was inactive in the bioassay. The results suggest that this active molecule may be driving the observed success of the invasion of this soft coral along the Brazilian Atlantic coast.

Three new 4alpha-methyl steroids, 4alpha-methyl-ergost-7,24(28)-diene-3beta-ol-23-one (1), 4alpha-methyl-ergost-8(14),24(28)-diene-3beta-ol-23-one (2), 4alpha-methyl-ergost-24(28)-en-3beta,11beta-diol-23-one (3), and two new polyoxygenated steroids, ergost-5,25-diene-3beta,24S,28-triol (4), ergost-5,24(28)-diene-3beta,23S-diol (5), along with one known steroid 24-methylencholesterol (6) were isolated from the soft coral Nephthea sp. Their structures including the relative configurations were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectra analysis. The absolute configurations of (4) and (5) were determined by the Mosher's method.

Chemical investigations on the acetone and MeOH solubles of the soft coral Nephthea erecta have afforded five new sesquiterpenoids (1-5), one known sesquiterpene, kelsoene (6), and two known 19-oxygenated steroids (10 and 11). In addition, three unexpected artificial 19-oxygenated steroids (7-9) were obtained by letting 10 and 11 stand in CDCl(3) for prolonged periods of time. The structures of 1-9 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells was measured in vitro.

Two new 4-methylated steroids, erectasteroids A and B (1 and 2), six new 19-oxygenated steroids, erectasteroids C-H (3-8) and two known 19-oxygenated steroids (9 and 10) were isolated from the acetone solubles of the Formosan soft coral Nephthea erecta. The structures were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells was measured in vitro.

Ten new cytotoxic steroids, stoloniferones H-Q (1-10) were isolated from the methylene chloride solubles of the soft coral Clavularia viridis. The structures of the metabolites were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic (IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR) analysis and their cytotoxicity against selected cancer cells was measured in vitro.

A new steroidal glycoside, bebrycoside (1), was isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian coral Bebryce indica. The structure of 1 was established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR data. This was the first time that the steroidal glycoside was isolated from the genus of Bebryce.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract from the octocoral Muricea austera collected in the Pacific coast of Panama led to the isolation of eight compounds, including three tyramine derivatives (1-3), two steroidal pregnane glycosides (4, 5), and three sesquiterpenoids (6-8). Compounds 2-5 are new natural products, and their structures were determined on the basis of their spectroscopic data (HRMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and CD studies). The antiprotozoal activities of the natural compounds 1-8 as well as those of a series of synthetic glycosides (11-22) and tyramine derivatives (23-35) were evaluated in vitro against a drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and intracellular form of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chemical investigation of the organic extract of a soft coral belonging to the genus Alcyonium furnished a steroid, 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triacetoxy-5beta-cholanic acid (1). The structure of steroid 1 was assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The configuration of steroid 1 was further supported by molecular mechanics calculations.