Sarcoconvolutums F and G: Polyoxygenated Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from <i>Sarcophyton convolutum</i>, a Red Sea Soft Coral

Abstract

Natural products and chemical analogues are widely used in drug discovery, notably in cancer and infectious disease pharmacotherapy. Sarcophyton convolutum (Alcyoniidae) a Red Sea–derived soft coral has been shown to be a rich source of macrocyclic diterpenes and cyclized derivatives. Two previously undescribed polyoxygenated cembrane-type diterpenoids, sarcoconvolutums F (1) and G (2), as well as four identified analogues (3–6) together with a furan derivate (7) were isolated from a solvent extract. Compounds were identified by spectroscopic techniques, including NMR, HREIMS, and CD, together with close spectral comparisons of previously published data. Sarcoconvolutum F (1) contains a rare 1-peroxid-15-hydroxy-10-ene functionality. Isolated metabolites (1–7) were screened against lung adenocarcinoma (A549), cervical cancer (HeLa) and oral cavity carcinoma (HSC-2) lines. Compound 4 exhibited an IC50 56 µM and 55 µM against A549 and HSC-2 cells, respectively.

Keywords

• soft coral
• <i>Sarcophyton convolutum</i>
• diterpenenoid
• cembranoids
• cytotoxic activity