Cytotoxic scalarane-type sesterterpenes from the Saudi Red Sea sponge Hyrtios erectus

The CHCl3/MeOH extract of the marine sponge Hyrtios erectus showed cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines HepG2, A549, and PC-3 with IC50 0.055, 0.044, and 0.023 μg/ml, respectively. The CH2Cl2 soluble fraction afforded three scalarane sesterterpenes (1-3) along with a cholestane derivative (4) and an indole alkaloid (5). Chemical structures were established by spectroscopic techniques and comparison with data reported in the literature. Scalarinol (1) was found as a new metabolite, while heteronemin (2) and 12-O-deacetyl-19-deoxyscalarin (3) are known compounds. 1-3 exhibited cytotoxic activity against the cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 14 to 230 μM. The molecular affinity to the DNA was employed as marker to examine the proposed mechanism of cytotoxic activities. Compound 2, with IC50 28 μg/ml, displayed the highest affinity to the DNA.

Wewakazole B, a Cytotoxic Cyanobactin from the Cyanobacterium Moorea producens Collected in the Red Sea

A mass spectrometry (MS)-guided isolation has led to the purification of a new cyanobactin, wewakazole B (1), along with the known compound curacin D from a Red Sea Moorea producens. The planar structure of 1 was elucidated using a combination of NMR and MS techniques. After ozonolysis and acid hydrolysis, the absolute configurations of the amino acid components of 1 were determined by chiral-phase LC-MS and HPLC analyses. Notably, compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity toward human MCF7 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 0.58 μM) and human H460 lung cancer cells (IC50 = 1.0 μM) and was also found to be inactive in a siderophore assay.

Antiproliferative effects of triterpenoidal derivatives, obtained from the marine sponge Siphonochalina sp., on human hepatic and colorectal cancer cells

Three triterpenoidal derivatives [Sipholenol A (1), sipholenol L (2) and sipholenone A (3)] were isolated from the Red Sea sponge Siphonochalina sp. The structures were determined based on spectroscopic measurements (NMR, UV, IR and MS). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines; HepG2, Caco-2 and HT-29. Moreover, the effects of these metabolites on cell cycle progression as well as cell cycle regulating proteins were assessed. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed moderate activity against HepG2 cells with IC50 values of 17.18 ± 1.18, 24.01 ± 0.59 and 35.06 ± 1.10 μM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 exerted a considerable antiproliferative effect with IC50 values of 4.80 ± 0.18 and 26.64 ± 0.30 μM, respectively, against Caco-2 cells. Finally, 1 and 2 exhibited antiproliferative activity against colorectal cancer cells (HT-29) with IC50 values of 24.65 ± 0.80 and 4.48 ± 0.1 μM, respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that these compounds induced cell cycle arrest particularly in G0/G1 and S phases. Furthermore, the triterpenoids increased the expression of cyclin-B1, cyclin-D1 and cleaved caspase-3, as determined by immunofluorescence, indicating an important role of apoptosis in cell death induced by these compounds.

Two new polyacetylene derivatives from the Red Sea sponge Xestospongia sp

Two new polyacetylenes (1 and 2), along with two known C-30 steroids (3 and 4) were identified from the Red Sea sponge, Xestospongia sp. The chemical structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic measurements 1D (1H, 13C and DEPT) and 2D (COSY, HSQC and HMBC) NMR, UV, IR and MS. The new compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their antimicrobial and antitumor activities. 1 and 2 were active against multidrug- resistant bacteria with MICs ranged from 2.2 to 4.5 μM. No toxicity was recorded for the two tested compounds up to 5 μM using Artemia salina as a test organism. Compound 2 showed excellent antifungal activity against some pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans (MIC 2.2-2.5 μM) and antitumor activity against both Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and lymphocytic leukemia (LD50 5.0 μM).

Differential cytotoxic activity of the petroleum ether extract and its furanosesquiterpenoid constituents from Commiphora molmol resin

This study revealed a differential cytotoxic activity of the petroleum ether extract (IC₅₀ =5 μg/mL) of the resinous exudates of Commiphora molmol against two mouse cell lines KA31T and NIH3T3 (untransformed and transformed mouse fibroblasts, respectively). Four new compounds (1-4) and five known compounds (5-9) were isolated from the petroleum ether extract. The identity of these new compounds was determined as γ-elemane lactone (1), 5-αH,8-βH-eudesma-1,3,7(11)-trien-8,12-olide (2), 2-hydroxy-11,12-dihydrofuranodiene (3), and 2-hydroxyfuranodiene (4). 1 and 2 displayed the highest cytotoxic activity against NIH3T3 cells. 7 and 9 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against KA31T cells. Compounds 3-6 showed weak cytotoxic activities against both cell lines. These results may explain the high efficacy of the petroleum ether fraction in several myrrh-derived pharmaceutical preparations.

A review of steroids from Sarcophyton species

This review reports the structural diversity of steroids from Sarcophyton species based on literature from the beginning of marine steroid research until now. There are 65 compounds studied from eight species. Most of them are polyhydroxy-type steroids of C-27-C-31 carbon skeleton. Their biological activities are highly diverse ranging from cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic to antiosteoporosis properties.

New cytotoxic cyclic peroxide acids from Plakortis sp. marine sponge

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract of Jamaican marine sponge Plakortis sp. followed by preparative TLC and HPLC yielded several known methyl ester cyclic peroxides (1a, 2a, 3a, 4, 5), known plakortides (6,7), known bicyclic lactone (8) and new cyclic peroxide acids (1b, 2b, 3b). The chemical structures were elucidated by extensive interpretation of their spectroscopic data. These natural products showed remarkable in vitro cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines.

New cytotoxic isoprenoid derivatives from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum collected from the Red Sea led to isolation of 11 isoprenoidal metabolites (1-11). A new sesquiterpenoid, 6-oxo-germacra-4(15),8,11-triene (1), a new natural cembranoid, sarcophinediol, along with two known sesquiterpenoids (2 and 3) and seven known cembranoids (5-11) was obtained. The structures of the compounds were established based on their NMR, MS, IR and UV spectral data. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity employing three cancer cell lines (HepG2, MCF-7 and HCT116). Compounds 4 and 6 showed significant cytotoxicity towards HepG2 with IC50 values of 18.8 ± 0.07 and 19.9 ± 0.02 μM; respectively. Compounds 5-7 exhibited potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 9.9 ± 0.03, 2.4 ± 0.04 and 3.2 ± 0.02 μM, respectively. Compounds 1, 4 and 5 showed significant activities towards HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 29.4 ± 0.03, 19.4 ± 0.02 and 25.8 ± 0.03 μM, respectively.

Cytotoxic effects of three new metabolites from Red Sea marine sponge, Petrosia sp

Marine sponges represent an affluent source of biogenetically unprecedented array of biologically active compounds. This study revealed the isolation of ten compounds from marine sponge of Petrosia sp. Their chemical structures were determined by using 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and MS measurements. A polyoxygenated steroid (3β,7β,9α-trihydroxycholest-5-en (1), a purine-derivative (3,7-dimethyl-2-(methylamino)-3H-purin-6(7H)-one (2) and a sphingolipid (N-((3S,E)-1,3-dihydroxytetracos-4-en-2-yl)stearamide (3) proved to be new compounds. Meanwhile, seven known compounds; (4-10) were also identified. The cytotoxicity of the total extract and the isolated compounds were subjected to cytotoxicity evaluation employing two cancer cell lines; HepG2 and MCF-7. All tested compounds exhibited cytotoxic effect on both cancer cell lines with IC(50) in range of 20-500 μM. The proposed mechanism of cytotoxic activities was examined through its molecular affinity to the DNA. Compound 5 showed the highest affinity to the DNA with IC(50) 30 μg/mL.

A new cytotoxic brominated acetylenic hydrocarbon from the marine sponge Haliclona sp. with a selective effect against human breast cancer

Three acetylenic brominated derivatives were isolated from a Red Sea sponge, Haliclona sp. One of them, 18-bromooctadeca-9(E),17(E)-dien-7,15-diynoic acid (3), is a known metabolite, and the other two are new compounds, (1E,5E,12E,19E)-1,22-dibromodocosa-1,5,12,19-tetraen-3,14,21-triyne (1) and methyl 18-bromooctadeca-9(E),17(E)-dien-7,15-diynoate (2) which was isolated for the first time as a natural metabolite. Structures of all compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic measurements [1D (1H, 13C and DEPT) and 2D (HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) NMR, MS, UV, and IR]. All compounds, except 3, were evaluated for their cytotoxicity employing four cancer cell lines, i.e. MCF-7 (human breast cancer), HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma), WI-38 (skin carcinoma), and Vero (African green monkey kidney). Compounds 1 and 2 had potent selective antitumour activity towards MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 32.5 and 50.8 microM, respectively.

Laurene-type sesquiterpenes from the Red Sea red alga Laurencia obtusa as potential antitumor-antimicrobial agents

Three new laurene-type sesquiterpenes, 12-hydroxy isolaurene (1), 8,11-dihydro-12-hydroxy isolaurene (2) and isolauraldehyde (3) were isolated from the organic extract of the red alga Laurencia obtusa. The chemical structures of isolates were determined by interpretation of their spectral data 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and MS. The newly isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial and antitumor activities. Compounds (1-3) exhibited potent activity against the gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, where 3 proved to be the most active (MIC 35 and 27 μg/mL, respectively). Moreover, compound 3 exhibited a significant activity against Candida albicans (MIC of 70 μg/mL) and revealed to have very promising activity in an in vitro model of Ehrlich ascites Carcinoma.

In vitro and in vivo study of cucurbitacins-type triterpene glucoside from Citrullus colocynthis growing in Saudi Arabia against hepatocellular carcinoma

Chromatographic investigation of fruits obtained from Citrullus colocynthis, growing in Saudi Arabia, led to isolation of two compounds; Cucurbitacin E glucoside (Cu E, 1), and Cucurbitacin I glucoside (Cu I, 2). The chemical structures of 1 and 2, were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses include; 1D ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D (COSY, HMQC and HMBC) NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopy. The in vitro cytotoxic activity against hepatoma cell line (HepG2) and mice-bearing tumor of Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) of the compounds were estimated. Both compounds had potent inhibitory activity on HepG2 with IC(50) 3.5 and 2.8 nmol/mL, respectively. In addition to these activities, the in vivo study employing EAC, showed the capability of both compounds to prolong the survival time, life span and normalize the biochemical parameters of the infected mice with EAC.

New antifungal cholestane and aldehyde derivatives from the red alga Laurencia papillosa

The chloroform/methanol extract of the red alga, Laurencia papillosa, collected from the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, was found to contain two cholestane derivatives: 3alpha, 6alpha-dihydroxy-5beta-cholestan-12-one (1) and the known, 6beta-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one (2), which was isolated separately in a pure form for the first time. In addition to these compounds, a new aldehyde derivative, (E)-2-{(E) tridec-2-en-2-yl} heptadec-2-enal (3), was isolated. The structures of all compounds were established based on extensive spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR) and mass spectrometric studies. All compounds, except 2, were tested for their antifungal activity. Significant activities were associated with 1 and 3 against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and A. flavus.

New Antifungal Cholestane and Aldehyde Derivatives from the Red Alga Laurencia papillosa

The chloroform/methanol extract of the red alga, Laurencia papillosa, collected from the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, was found to contain two cholestane derivatives: 3α, 6α-dihydroxy-5β-cholestan-12-one (1) and the known, 6β-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one (2), which was isolated separately in a pure form for the first time. In addition to these compounds, a new aldehyde derivative, ( E)-2-{( E) tridec-2-en-2-yl} heptadec-2-enal (3), was isolated. The structures of all compounds were established based on extensive spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR) and mass spectrometric studies. All compounds, except 2, were tested for their antifungal activity. Significant activities were associated with 1 and 3 against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and A. flavus.