Marine-Derived Biomolecules

The world’s oceans have been shown to be rich habitats with great biodiversity and chemical entities with proven bioactivities related to cancer, inflammation, epilepsy, the immunomodulatory system, microbial and parasitic infections, and many others [...

Psammaplysins: Insights from Natural Sources, Structural Variations, and Pharmacological Properties

Marine natural products (MNPs) continue to be in the spotlight in the global drug discovery endeavor. Currently, more than 32,000 structurally diverse secondary metabolites from marine sources have been isolated, making MNPs a vital source for researchers to look for novel drug candidates. The marine-derived psammaplysins possess the rare and unique 1,6-dioxa-2-azaspiro [4.6] undecane backbone and are represented by 44 compounds in the literature, mostly from sponges of the order Verongiida. Compounds with 1,6-dioxa-2-azaspiro [4.6] undecane moiety exist in the literature under five names, including psammaplysins, ceratinamides, frondoplysins, ceratinadins, and psammaceratins. These compounds displayed significant biological properties including growth inhibitory, antimalarial, antifouling, protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition, antiviral, immunosuppressive, and antioxidant effects. In this review, a comprehensive literature survey covering natural occurrence of the psammaplysins and related compounds, methods of isolation, structural differences, the biogenesis, and biological/pharmacological properties, will be presented

Pseudoceratonic Acid and Moloka’iamine Derivatives from the Red Sea Verongiid Sponge Pseudoceratina arabica

During an investigation of the chemistry of the Red Sea Verongiid sponge Pseudoceratina arabica, we discovered a small molecule, pseudoceratonic acid (1), along with the new moloka’iamine derivatives, ceratinines N (2), O (3), and the previously reported compounds moloka’iamine (4), hydroxymoloka’iamine (5) and ceratinamine (6). The structural assignments of 1–6 were accomplished by interpretation of their NMR and HRESIMS spectral data. Pseudoceratonic acid possesses a dibrominated hydrazine-derived functional group not found in any reported chemical compound. Pseudoceratonic acid selectively inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, while ceratinine N selectively inhibited C. albicans. Further, ceratinine N showed potent cytotoxic effects against the triple-negative breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and human cervical carcinoma cell lines down to 2.1 µM

Cytotoxic Psammaplysin Analogues from the Verongid Red Sea Sponge Aplysinella Species

As part of our ongoing interest to identify bioactive chemical entities from marine invertebrates, the Red Sea specimen of the Verongid sponge Aplysinella species was studied. Repeated chromatographic fractionation of the methanolic extract of the sponge and HPLC purification of the cytotoxic fractions led to the isolation and the identification of two new compounds, psammaplysin Z and 19-hydroxypsammaplysin Z (1 and 2), together with the previously reported psammaplysins A (3) and E (4). The structural determination of 1–4 was supported by interpretation of their NMR and high-resolution mass spectra. Psammaplysins A and E displayed cytotoxic activity against MBA-MB-231 and HeLa cell lines with IC50 values down to 0.29 µM. On the other hand, psammaplysin Z and 19-hydroxypsammaplysin Z were moderately cytotoxic, indicating the importance of the terminal amine and 2-(methylene)cyclopent-4-ene-1,3-dione moieties in 3 and 4 for potent cytotoxic activity

Psammaplysins: Insights from Natural Sources, Structural Variations, and Pharmacological Properties

Marine natural products (MNPs) continue to be in the spotlight in the global drug discovery endeavor. Currently, more than 32,000 structurally diverse secondary metabolites from marine sources have been isolated, making MNPs a vital source for researchers to look for novel drug candidates. The marine-derived psammaplysins possess the rare and unique 1,6-dioxa-2-azaspiro [4.6] undecane backbone and are represented by 44 compounds in the literature, mostly from sponges of the order Verongiida. Compounds with 1,6-dioxa-2-azaspiro [4.6] undecane moiety exist in the literature under five names, including psammaplysins, ceratinamides, frondoplysins, ceratinadins, and psammaceratins. These compounds displayed significant biological properties including growth inhibitory, antimalarial, antifouling, protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibition, antiviral, immunosuppressive, and antioxidant effects. In this review, a comprehensive literature survey covering natural occurrence of the psammaplysins and related compounds, methods of isolation, structural differences, the biogenesis, and biological/pharmacological properties, will be presented

Hemimycalins C–E; Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Alkaloids with Hydantoin and 2-Iminoimidazolidin-4-one Backbones from the Red Sea Marine Sponge <i>Hemimycale</i> sp.

In the course of our continuing efforts to identify bioactive secondary metabolites from Red Sea marine sponges, we have investigated the sponge Hemimycale sp. The cytotoxic fraction of the organic extract of the sponge afforded three new compounds, hemimycalins C–E (1–3). Their structural assignments were obtained via analyses of their one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra and HRESI mass spectrometry. Hemimycalin C was found to differ from the reported hydantoin compounds in the configuration of the olefinic moiety at C-5–C-6, while hemimycalins D and E were found to contain an 2-iminoimidazolidin-4-one moiety instead of the hydantoin moiety in previously reported compounds from the sponge. Hemimycalins C–E showed significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans and cytotoxic effects against colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116) and the triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells

Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Compounds from the Marine-Derived Fungus, Penicillium Species

The organic extract of liquid cultures of the marine-derived Penicillium sp. was investigated. Fractionation of the extracts of the fungus led to the purification and identification of two new compounds, penicillatides A (1) and B (2), together with the previously reported cyclo(R-Pro–S-Phe) (3) and cyclo(R-Pro–R-Phe) (4). The structures of compounds 1–4 were assigned by extensive interpretation of their NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of the compounds against three human cancer cell lines as well as their antimicrobial activity against several pathogens were evaluated. Compounds 2–4 displayed variable cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities

Mirabolides A and B; New Cytotoxic Glycerides from the Red Sea Sponge Theonella mirabilis

As a part of our continuing work to find out bioactive lead molecules from marine invertebrates, the CHCl3 fraction of the organic extract of the Red Sea sponge Theonella mirabilis showed cytotoxic activity in our primary screen. Bioassay-guided purification of the active fractions of the sponge’s extract resulted in the isolation of two new glycerides, mirabolides A and B (1 and 2), together with the reported 4-methylene sterols, conicasterol (3) and swinhosterol B (4). The structures of the compounds were assigned by interpretation of their 1D (1H, 13C), 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) NMR spectral data and high-resolution mass determinations. Compounds 1–4 displayed marked cytotoxic activity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7) with IC50 values of 16.4, 5.18, 6.23 and 3.0 μg/mL, respectively, compared to 5.4 μg/mL observed by doxorubicin as reference drug

Bioactive Hydantoin Alkaloids from the Red Sea Marine Sponge Hemimycale arabica

In the course of our continuing efforts to identify bioactive secondary metabolites from Red Sea marine invertebrates, we have investigated the sponge Hemimycale arabica. The antimicrobial fraction of an organic extract of the sponge afforded two new hydantoin alkaloids, hemimycalins A and B (2 and 3), together with the previously reported compound (Z)-5-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)imidazolidine-2,4-dione (1). The structures of the compounds were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC and HMBC) studies and high-resolution mass spectral determinations. Hemimycalins A (2) and B (3) represent the first examples of the natural N-alkylated hydantoins from the sponge Hemimycale arabica. Compounds 1–3 displayed variable antimicrobial activities against E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans. In addition, compound 1 displayed moderate antiproliferative activity against the human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell line. These findings provide further insight into the chemical diversity as well as the biological activity of this class of compounds