Anti-inflammatory cembranolides from the soft coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Lobophytum durum resulted in the isolation of seven new cembranolides, durumolides F–L (1–7), as well as one previously characterized cembranolides, sinularolide D (8). The molecular structures of these isolated metabolites were determined mainly through NMR techniques and HRESIMS analysis. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 1 and 5 were established by application of modified Mosher’s method. The antibacterial activities, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) endonuclease activity of metabolites 1–8 were also evaluated in vitro. Anti-inflammatory activity of metabolites 1 and 6 (10 μM) significantly reduced the levels of the iNOS protein to 0.8 ± 0.6% and 5.7 ± 2.2%, respectively, and COX-2 protein to 47.8 ± 9.0% and 71.6 ± 5.8%, respectively. Metabolites 1–8 (100 μg/disk) exhibited weak antibacterial activity against Salmonella enteritidis.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide