New Cytotoxic Cembranolides from the Soft Coral Lobophytum michaelae

Six new cembranolides, michaolides L–Q (1–6), and a known cembranolide, lobomichaolide (7) were isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the soft coral Lobophytum michaelae. Their structures were established by extensive spectral analysis. The anti-HCMV (human cytomegalovirus) activity of 1–7 and their cytotoxicity against selected cell lines were evaluated

Cembranoids from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Lobophytum crassum

Chemical investigation of the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Lobophytum crassum has afforded four new cembranoids, crassumols A–C (1–3) and 13-acetoxysarcophytoxide (4). The structures of these isolated compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR and HRESIMS experiments. The cytotoxicity and anti-HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) activities of 1–4 were evaluated in vitro. Compound 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against A-549 (human lung carcinoma) cell line with an ED50 of 3.6 μg/mL

New Cembranolides from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigations of the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Lobophytum durum resulted in the isolation of five new cembranolides, durumolides M–Q (1–5). The structures of compounds 1–5 were characterized by the interpretation of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against P-388 (mouse lymphocytic leukemia) cell line with an ED50 of 3.8 μg/mL. Moreover, compound 5 showed significant antiviral activity against human cytomegalovirus with an IC50 of 5.2 μg/mL

New Lobane and Cembrane Diterpenes from Two Comorian Soft Corals

Preliminary biological investigation of a collection of Comorian soft corals resulted in the selection of two specimens, one of Sarcophyton and the other of Lobophytum, on the basis of their toxicity on larvae of the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionations provided a known antitumor promoter cembrane diterpenoid, (+)-sarcophytol-A (1), along with a new lobane diterpenoid, carbomethoxyfuscol (2), from Sarcophyton sp., and a new cembranoid, crassumolide E (3), from Lobophytum sp. The structures of compounds 1–3 were determined by spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the spectral data with previously reported values. The cembranoid 3 was found to exhibit a moderate inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase