1-O-Alkylglycerol Ethers from the Marine Sponge Guitarra abbotti and Their Cytotoxic Activity

The cytotoxicity-bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extract from the marine sponge Guitarra abbotti, whose 1-O-alkyl-sn-glycerol ethers (AGEs) have not been investigated so far, led to the isolation of a complex lipid fraction containing, along with previously known compounds, six new lipids of the AGE type. The composition of the AGE fraction as well as the structures of 6 new and 22 previously known compounds were established using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, GC/MS, and chemical conversion methods. The new AGEs were identified as: 1-O-(Z-docos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (1), 1-O-(Z-docos-17-enyl)-sn-glycerol (2), 1-O-(Z-tricos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (3), 1-O-(Z-tricos-16-enyl)-sn-glycerol (4), 1-O-(Z-tricos-17-enyl)-sn-glycerol (5), and 1-O-(Z-tetracos-15-enyl)-sn-glycerol (6). The isolated AGEs show weak cytotoxic activity in THP-1, HL-60, HeLa, DLD-1, SNU C4, SK-MEL-28, and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells. A further cytotoxicity analysis in JB6 P⁺ Cl41 cells bearing mutated MAP kinase genes revealed that ERK2 and JNK1 play a cytoprotective role in the cellular response to the AGE-induced cytotoxic effects.     

New α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Triterpenic Acid from Marine Macro Green Alga Codium dwarkense Boergs

The marine ecosystem has been a key resource for secondary metabolites with promising biological roles. In the current study, bioassay-guided phytochemical investigations were carried out to assess the presence of enzyme inhibitory chemical constituents from the methanolic extract of marine green alga—Codium dwarkense. The bioactive fractions were further subjected to chromatographic separations, which resulted in the isolation of a new triterpenic acid; dwarkenoic acid (1) and the known sterols; androst-5-en-3β-ol (2), stigmasta-5,25-dien-3β,7α-diol (3), ergosta-5,25-dien-3β-ol (4), 7-hydroxystigmasta-4,25-dien-3-one-7-O-β-d-fucopyranoside (5), 7-hydroxystigmasta-4,25-dien-3-one (6), and stigmasta-5,25-dien-3β-ol (7). The structure elucidation of the new compound was carried out by combined mass spectrometry and 1D (¹H and ¹³C) and 2D (HSQC, HMBC, COSY, and NOESY) NMR spectroscopic data. The sub-fractions and pure constituents were assayed for enzymatic inhibition of alpha-glucosidase. Compound 1 showed significant inhibition at all concentrations. Compounds 2, 3, 5, and 7 exhibited a dose-dependent response, whereas compounds 4–6 showed moderate inhibition. Utilizing such marine-derived biological resources could lead to drug discoveries related to anti-diabetics.     

Acylated Aminooligosaccharides from the Yellow Sea Streptomyces sp. HO1518 as Both α-Glucosidase and Lipase Inhibitors

Three new acylated aminooligosaccharide (1–3), along with five known congeners (4–8), were isolated from the marine-derived Streptomyces sp. HO1518. Their structures were fully elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, mainly based on 1D-selective and 2D TOCSY, HSQC-TOCSY, and HRESIMS spectrometry measurements, and by chemical transformations. All of the compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities. Among the isolates, D6-O-isobutyryl-acarviostatin II03 (3) and D6-O-acetyl-acarviostatin II03 (8), sharing acarviostatin II03-type structure, showed the most potent α-glucosidase and lipase inhibitory effects, far stronger than the antidiabetic acarbose towards α-glucosidase and almost equal to the anti-obesity orlistat towards lipase in vitro. This is the first report on inhibitory activities against the two major digestive enzymes for acylated aminooligosaccharides. The results from our investigation highlight the potential of acylated aminooligosaccharides for the future development of multi-target anti-diabetic drug.     

Fibrinolytic Compounds Isolated from a Brown Alga,Sargassum fulvellum

Two of bioactive natural products were founded in a brown alga, Sargassum fulvellum. After isolation and purification, the molecular structures of these two products were investigated by NMR spectroscopy and GC-mass spectroscopy. The two compounds were identified to be 1-O-palmitoyl-2-O-oleoyl-3-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyl) –glycerol (POGG) and 1-O-myristoyl-2-O-oleoyl-3-O-(α-D-glucopyranosyl) – glycerol (MOGG) which were obtained from Sargassum fulvellum for the first time. POGG and MOGG showed fibrinolytic activity in the reaction system of pro-u-PA and plasminogen.     

Seven New and Two Known Lipopeptides as well as Five Known Polyketides: The Activated Production of Silent Metabolites in a Marine-Derived Fungus by Chemical Mutagenesis Strategy Using Diethyl Sulphate

AD-2-1 is an antitumor fungal mutant obtained by diethyl sulfate mutagenesis of a marine-derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59. The G59 strain originally did not produce any metabolites with antitumor activities in MTT assays using K562 cells. Tracing newly produced metabolites under guidance of MTT assay and TLC analysis by direct comparison with control G59 extract, seven new (1–7) and two known (8–9) lipopeptides were isolated together with five known polyketides 10–14 from the extract of mutant AD-2-1. Structures of the seven new compounds including their absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical evidences and named as penicimutalides A–G (1–7). Seven known compounds were identified as fellutamide B (8), fellutamide C (9), 1′-O-methylaverantin (10), averantin (11), averufin (12), nidurufin (13), and sterigmatocystin (14). In the MTT assay, 1–14 inhibited several human cancer cell lines to varying extents. All the bioassays and HPLC-photodiode array detector (PDAD)-UV and HPLC-electron spray ionization (ESI)-MS analyses demonstrated that the production of 1–14 in the mutant AD-2-1 was caused by the activated production of silent metabolites in the original G59 fungal strain. Present results provided additional examples for effectiveness of the chemical mutagenesis strategy using diethyl sulphate mutagenesis to discover new compounds by activating silent metabolites in fungal isolates.     

Three New and Eleven Known Unusual C25 Steroids: Activated Production of Silent Metabolites in a Marine-Derived Fungus by Chemical Mutagenesis Strategy using Diethyl Sulphate

Three new (1–3) and 11 known (4–14) C25 steroids with an unusual bicyclo[4.4.1]A/B ring system were isolated by tracing newly produced metabolites in the EtOAc extract of an antitumor mutant AD-1-2 obtained by the diethyl sulphate (DES) mutagenesis of a marine-derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59. HPLC-PDAD-UV and HPLC-ESI-MS analyses indicated that the G59 strain did not produce these metabolites and the production of 1–14 in the mutant AD-1-2 extract was caused by the activation of silent metabolites in the original G59 strain by DES mutagenesis. The structures of the new compounds, named antineocyclocitrinols A (1) and B (2) and 23-O-methylantineocyclocitrinol (3), including their absolute configurations were determined by various spectroscopic methods, especially the NMR and Mo₂-induced CD analyses. Compounds 1–3 provide the first examples of the C25 bicyclo[4.4.1]A/B ring steroids with the Z-configuration of 20,22-double bond. All of 1–14 weakly inhibited several human cancer cell lines to varying extents. These results provided additional examples for the successful application of the chemical mutagenesis strategy using DES to discover new compounds by activating silent metabolites in fungal isolates and supported also the effectiveness and usefulness of this new strategy.     

Activation of the Silent Secondary Metabolite Production by Introducing Neomycin-Resistance in a Marine-Derived Penicillium purpurogenum G59

Introduction of neomycin-resistance into a marine-derived, wild-type Penicillium purpurogenum G59 resulted in activation of silent biosynthetic pathways for the secondary metabolite production. Upon treatment of G59 spores with neomycin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a total of 56 mutants were obtained by single colony isolation. The acquired resistance of mutants to neomycin was testified by the resistance test. In contrast to the G59 strain, the EtOAc extracts of 28 mutants inhibited the human cancer K562 cells, indicating that the 28 mutants have acquired the capability to produce bioactive metabolites. HPLC-photodiode array detector (PDAD)-UV and HPLC-electron spray ionization (ESI)-MS analyses further indicated that diverse secondary metabolites have been newly produced in the bioactive mutant extracts. Followed isolation and characterization demonstrated that five bioactive secondary metabolites, curvularin (1), citrinin (2), penicitrinone A (3), erythro-23-O-methylneocyclocitrinol (4) and 22E-7α-methoxy-5α,6α-epoxyergosta-8(14),22-dien-3β-ol (5), were newly produced by a mutant, 4-30, compared to the G59 strain. All 1–5 were also not yet found in the secondary metabolites of other wild type P. purpurogenum strains. Compounds 1–5 inhibited human cancer K562, HL-60, HeLa and BGC-823 cells to varying extents. Both present bioassays and chemical investigations demonstrated that the introduction of neomycin-resistance into the marine-derived fungal G59 strain could activate silent secondary metabolite production. The present work not only extended the previous DMSO-mediated method for introducing drug-resistance in fungi both in DMSO concentrations and antibiotics, but also additionally exemplified effectiveness of this method for activating silent fungal secondary metabolites. This method could be applied to other fungal isolates to elicit their metabolic potentials to investigate secondary metabolites from silent biosynthetic pathways.     

Bioactive Bromotyrosine Derivatives from the Pacific Marine Sponge Suberea clavata (Pulitzer-Finali, 1982)

Chemical investigation of the South-Pacific marine sponge Suberea clavata led to the isolation of eight new bromotyrosine metabolites named subereins 1–8 (2–9) along with twelve known co-isolated congeners. The detailed configuration determination of the first representative major compound of this family 11-epi-fistularin-3 (11R,17S) (1) is described. Their chemical characterization was achieved by HRMS and integrated 1D and 2D NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopic studies and extensive comparison with literature data. For the first time, a complete assignment of the absolute configurations for stereogenic centers C-11/17 of the known members (11R,17S) 11-epi-fistularin-3 (1) and 17-deoxyfistularin-3 (10) was determined by a combination of chemical modifications, Mosher’s technology, and ECD spectroscopy. Consequently, the absolute configurations of all our new isolated compounds 2–9 were determined by the combination of NMR, Mosher’s method, ECD comparison, and chemical modifications. Interestingly, compounds 2–7 were obtained by chemical transformation of the major compound 11-epi-fistularin-3 (1). Evaluation for acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChE), DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) modulating activity and antifouling activities using marine bacterial strains are also presented.     

New Isocoumarin Analogues from the Marine-Derived Fungus Paraphoma sp. CUGBMF180003

Nine new secondary metabolites, including six isocoumarin analogues, 7-hydroxyoospolactone (1), 7-methoxyoospolactone (2), 7-methoxy-9-hydroxyoospolactone (3), 10-acetoxy-9-hydroxyoospolactone (4), 6-dehydroxysescandelin (5), parapholactone (6), and three compounds with a rare skeleton of isocoumarin coupled with phenylethylamine, namely paraphamide A (12), paraphamide B (13), and paraphamide C (14), together with five known compounds, oospolactone (7), 8-O-methyloospolactone (8), 10-hydroxyoospolactone (9), 9,10-dihydroxyoospolactone (10), and oospoglycol (11), were isolated and identified from the marine-derived fungus Paraphoma sp. CUGBMF180003. Their chemical structures were determined using spectroscopic data, including HRESIMS and 1D and 2D NMR techniques. Furthermore, the stereogenic carbons in 5 and 14 were determined by comparing the experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The carbon skeleton of 12–14 was identified as the first example of isocoumarin coupled with phenylethylamine derivatives. All of these compounds were examined for antimicrobial activities against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. Both 1 and 6 showed antibacterial activity against S. aureus with MIC values of 12.5 μg/mL.     

In Vitro Anticancer and Cancer-Preventive Activity of New Triterpene Glycosides from the Far Eastern Starfish Solaster pacificus

Sea stars or starfish (class Asteroidea) and holothurians or sea cucumbers (class Holothuroidea), belonging to the phylum Echinodermata (echinoderms), are characterized by different sets of glycosidic metabolites: the steroid type in starfish and the triterpene type in holothurians. However, herein we report the isolation of eight new triterpene glycosides, pacificusosides D–K (1–3, 5–9) along with the known cucumarioside D (4), from the alcoholic extract of the Far Eastern starfish Solaster pacificus. The isolated new compounds are closely related to the metabolites of sea cucumbers, and their structures of 1–3 and 5–9 were determined by extensive NMR and ESIMS techniques. Compounds 2, 5, and 8 have a new type of tetrasaccharide chain with a terminal non-methylated monosaccharide unit. Compounds 3, 6, and 9 contain another new type of tetrasaccharide chain, having 6-O-SO₃-Glc as one of the sugar units. The cytotoxic activity of 1–9 against non-cancerous mouse epidermal cells JB6 Cl41 and human melanoma cell lines SK-MEL-2, SK-MEL-28, and RPMI-7951 was determined by MTS assay. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9 showed potent cytotoxicity against these cell lines, but the cancer selectivity (SI > 9) was observed only against the SK-MEL-2 cell line. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9 at the non-toxic concentration of 0.1 μM significantly inhibited neoplastic cell transformation of JB6 Cl41 cells induced by chemical carcinogens (EGF, TPA) or ionizing radiation (X-rays and UVB). Moreover, compounds 1 and 4 at the non-toxic concentration of 0.1 µM possessed the highest inhibiting activity on colony formation among the investigated compounds and decreased the colonies number of SK-MEL-2 cells by 64% and 70%, respectively. Thus, triterpene glycosides 1 and 4 can be considered as prospective cancer-preventive and anticancer-compound leaders.     

New Metabolites and Bioactive Actinomycins from Marine-Derived Streptomyces sp. ZZ338

An extract prepared from the culture of a marine-derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. ZZ338 was found to have significant antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. A chemical investigation of this active extract resulted in the isolation of three known bioactive actinomycins (1–3) and two new metabolites (4 and 5). The structures of the isolated compounds were identified as actinomycins D (1), V (2), X_0β (3), 2-acetylamino-3-hydroxyl-4-methyl-benzoic acid methyl ester (4), and N-1S-(4-methylaminophenylmethyl)-2-oxo-propyl acetamide (5) based on their nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) data as well as their optical rotation. This class of new compound 5 had never before been found from a natural resource. Three known actinomycins showed activities in inhibiting the proliferation of glioma cells and the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans and are responsible for the activity of the crude extract. Actinomycin D (1) was also found to downregulate several glioma metabolic enzymes of glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and lipogenesis, suggesting that targeting multiple tumor metabolic regulators might be a new anti-glioma mechanism of actinomycin D. This is the first report of such a possible mechanism for the class of actinomycins.     

Three New Cytotoxic Polyhydroxysteroidal Glycosides from Starfish Craspidaster hesperus

Three new polyhydroxysteroidal glycosides, hesperuside A (1), B (2), and C (3), as well as a known novaeguinoside A (4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of starfish Craspidaster hesperus collected from the South China Sea. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and chemical evidence. The compounds 1–3 present unprecedented carbohydrate chain 3-O-methyl-β-d-galactopyranose, which differ from each other in the side chains. These compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against human tumor cells BEL-7402, MOLT-4, and A-549 in vitro.     

Chemistry and Tumor Cell Growth Inhibitory Activity of 11,20-Epoxy-3Z,5(6)E-diene Briaranes from the South China Sea Gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea

Eighteen new 11,20-epoxy-3Z,5E-dien briaranes, gemmacolides AA–AR (1–18), were isolated together with three known analogs, dichotellides F (19) and I (20), and juncenolide C (21), from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea. The structures of the compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with reported data. The absolute configuration was determined based on the ECD experiment. In the in vitro bioassay, compounds 1–3, 5, 6, 8–12, and 14–19 exhibited different levels of growth inhibition activity against A549 and MG63 cell lines. Preliminary structure-activity analysis suggests that 12-O-isovalerate may increase the activity whereas 13- or 14-O-isovalerate may decrease the activity. Contribution of substitutions at C-2 and C-16 remains uncertain.     

Unusual Structures and Cytotoxicities of Chitonoidosides A,A1, B,C, D,and E,Six Triterpene Glycosides from the Far Eastern Sea Cucumber Psolus chitonoides

Six new triterpene tetra-, penta- and hexaosides, chitonoidosides A (1), A₁ (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), and E (6), containing one or two sulfate groups, have been isolated from the Far-Eastern sea cucumber Psolus chitonoides, collected near Bering Island (Commander Islands) from the depth of 100–150 m. Three of the isolated compounds (1, 3 and 6) are characterized by the unusual aglycone of new type having 18(20)-ether bond and lacking a lactone in contrast with wide spread holostane derivatives. Another unexpected finding is 3-O-methylxylose residue as a terminal unit in the carbohydrate chains of chitonoidosides B (3), C (4), and E (6), which has never been found before in the glycosides from holothurians belonging to the Psolidae family. Moreover, this monosaccharide is sulfated in the compound 4 into unprecedented 3-O-methylxylose 4-O-sulfate residue. Chitonoidoside C (4) is characterized by tetrasaccharide moiety lacking a part of the bottom semi-chain, but having disaccharide fragment attached to C-4 of Xyl1. Such architecture is not common in sea cucumber glycosides. Cytotoxic activities of the compounds 1–5 against mouse and human erythrocytes and human cancer cell lines: adenocarcinoma HeLa, colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD-1, and leukemia promyeloblast HL-60 cells were studied. The cytotoxic effect of chitonoidoside d (5) was the most significant in this series due to the presence of pentasaccharide disulfated sugar chain in combination with holostane aglycone. Surprisingly, the glycosides 1 and 3, comprising the new aglycone without γ-lactone, demonstrated similar activity to the known compounds with holostane aglycones. Chitonoidoside C (4) was less cytotoxic due to the different architecture of the carbohydrate chain compared to the other glycosides and probably due to the presence of a sulfate group at C-4 in 3-O-MeXyl4.     

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

Sinulolides A–H,New Cyclopentenone and Butenolide Derivatives from Soft Coral Sinularia sp.

Eight new compounds, sinulolides A–H (1–8), along with two known compounds, α-methoxy-2,3-dimethyl-butenolide (9) and sinularone D (10), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia sp. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations were determined on the basis of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analysis. Compounds 5 and 10 exhibited moderate effects for the inhibition of NF-κB activation.     

New Glycosylated Secondary Metabolites from Marine-Derived Bacteria

Three new glycosylated secondary metabolites, including a new indole alkaloid, pityriacitrin D (1), and two new trehalose lipids (2 and 3), together with three known compounds (4–6) were isolated from two marine-derived bacterial strains, Bacillus siamensis 168CLC-66.1 and Tsukamurella pseudospumae IV19-045. The structures of 1–3 were determined by extensive analysis and comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature values. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties were determined by chemical derivatization followed by LC-MS analysis. Cytotoxicity of 1–3 against six cancer cell lines was evaluated by SRB assay, and 1 showed moderate activity against all the tested cell lines with GI₅₀ values ranging from 8.0 to 10.9 µM.     

New Antioxidative Secondary Metabolites from the Fruits of a Beibu Gulf Mangrove,Avicennia marina

Further chemical investigation of the fruits of the mangrove, Avicennia marina, afforded three new phenylethyl glycosides, marinoids J–L (1–3), and a new cinnamoyl glycoside, marinoid M (4). The structures of isolates were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of the data with those of related secondary metabolites. The antioxidant activity of the isolates was evaluated using the cellular antioxidant assay (CAA), and compounds 1–4 showed antioxidant activities, with EC₅₀ values ranging from 23.0 ± 0.71 μM to 247.8 ± 2.47 μM.     

Investigation on Metabolites in Structural Diversity from the Deep-Sea Sediment-Derived Bacterium Agrococcus sp. SCSIO 52902 and Their Biosynthesis

Deep-sea sediment-derived bacterium may make full use of self-genes to produce more bioactive metabolites to adapt to extreme environment, resulting in the discovery of novel metabolites with unique structures and metabolic mechanisms. In the paper, we systematically investigated the metabolites in structurally diversity and their biosynthesis from the deep-sea sediment-derived bacterium Agrococcus sp. SCSIO 52902 based on OSMAC strategy, Molecular Networking tool, in combination with bioinformatic analysis. As a result, three new compounds and one new natural product, including 3R-OH-1,6-diene-cyclohexylacetic acid (1), linear tetradepsipeptide (2), N¹,N⁵-di-p-(EE)-coumaroyl-N¹⁰-acetylspermidine (3) and furan fatty acid (4), together with nineteen known compounds (5–23) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of SCSIO 52902. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Marfey’s method and chiral-phase HPLC analysis. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that compounds 1, 3, 9 and 13–22 were closely related to the shikimate pathway, and compound 5 was putatively produced by the OSB pathway instead of the PKS pathway. In addition, the result of cytotoxicity assay showed that compound 5 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against the HL-60 cell line.     

Prenylated Indolediketopiperazine Peroxides and Related Homologues from the Marine Sediment-Derived Fungus Penicillium brefeldianum SD-273

Three new indolediketopiperazine peroxides, namely, 24-hydroxyverruculogen (1), 26-hydroxyverruculogen (2), and 13-O-prenyl-26-hydroxyverruculogen (3), along with four known homologues (4–7), were isolated and identified from the culture extract of the marine sediment-derived fungus Penicillium brefeldianum SD-273. Their structures were determined based on the extensive spectroscopic analysis and compound 1 was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absolute configuration of compounds 1–3 was determined using chiral HPLC analysis of their acidic hydrolysates. Each of the isolated compounds was evaluated for antibacterial and cytotoxic activity as well as brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality.