Bioactive cadinane-type compounds from the soft coral Sinularia scabra

The application and sustainable development of coral in traditional medicine and its chemical composition, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical research

This review discusses the variety, chemical composition, pharmacological effects, toxicology, and clinical research of corals used in traditional medicine in the past two decades. At present, several types of medicinal coral resources are identified, which are used in 56 formulas such as traditional Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine, and Uyghur medicine. A total of 34 families and 99 genera of corals are involved in medical research, with the Alcyoniidae family and Sarcophyton genus being the main research objects. Based on the structural types of compounds and the families and genera of corals, this review summarizes the compounds primarily reported during the period, including terpenoids, steroids, nitrogen-containing compounds, and other terpenoids dominated by sesquiterpene and diterpenes. The biological activities of coral include cytotoxicity (antitumor and anticancer), anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, immunosuppressive, antioxidant, and neurological properties, and a detailed summary of the mechanisms underlying these activities or related targets is provided. Coral toxicity mostly occurs in the marine ornamental soft coral Zoanthidae family, with palytoxin as the main toxic compound. In addition, nonpeptide neurotoxins are extracted from aquatic corals. The compatibility of coral-related preparations did not show significant acute toxicity, but if used for a long time, it will still cause toxicity to the liver, kidneys, lungs, and other internal organs in a dose-dependent manner. In clinical applications, individual application of coral is often used as a substitute for orthopedic materials to treat diseases such as bone defects and bone hyperplasia. Second, coral is primarily available in the form of compound preparations, such as Ershiwuwei Shanhu pills and Shanhu Qishiwei pills, which are widely used in the treatment of neurological diseases such as migraine, primary headache, epilepsy, cerebral infarction, hypertension, and other cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It is undeniable that the effectiveness of coral research has exacerbated the endangered status of corals. Therefore, there should be no distinction between the advantages and disadvantages of listed endangered species, and it is imperative to completely prohibit their use and provide equal protection to help them recover to their normal numbers. This article can provide some reference for research on coral chemical composition, biological activity, chemical ecology, and the discovery of marine drug lead compounds. At the same time, it calls for people to protect endangered corals from the perspectives of prohibition, substitution, and synthesis.

Cytotoxic Compounds from Alcyoniidae. An Overview of the Last 30 Years

The octocoral family Alcyoniidae represents a rich source of bioactive substances with intriguing and unique structural features. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the compounds isolated from Alcyoniidae and displaying potential cytotoxic activity. In order to allow a better comparison among the bioactive compounds, we focused on molecules evaluated in vitro by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, by far the most widely used method to analyze cell proliferation and viability. Specifically, we surveyed the last thirty years of research, finding 153 papers reporting on 344 compounds with proven cytotoxicity. The data were organized in tables to provide a ranking of the most active compounds, to be exploited for the selection of the most promising candidates for further screening and pre-clinical evaluation as anti-cancer agents. Specifically, we found that (22S,24S)-24-methyl-22,25-epoxyfurost-5-ene-3β,20β-diol (16), 3β,11-dihydroxy-24-methylene-9,11-secocholestan-5-en-9-one (23), (24S)-ergostane-3β,5α,6β,25 tetraol (146), sinulerectadione (227), sinulerectol C (229), and cladieunicellin I (277) exhibited stronger cytotoxicity than their respective positive control and that their mechanism of action has not yet been further investigated.

Recent updates on Sinularia soft coral

Marine organisms are recognized as a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The remarkable abundance and diversity of bioactive small molecules isolated from soft corals displayed their essential role in drug discovery for human diseases. Sterols and terpenes, particularly cembranolides, 14-membered cyclic diterpene, demonstrated numerous biological activities, such as antitumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-osteoporosis and anti-inflammatory. Accordingly, continuous investigation of marine soft corals will be the way for the discovery of a plentiful number of chemical diverse natural products with various biological potentials for prospective pharmaceutical industrial applications. Such review affords plenary inspection of the total secondary metabolites isolated from the Sinularia, from 2008 until 2020, besides their natural sources as well as bioactivities whenever possible.

Isolation of Sesquiterpenoids and Steroids from the Soft Coral Sinularia brassica and Determination of Their Absolute Configuration

Two undescribed rearranged cadinane-type sesquiterpenoids (1-2), named sinulaketol A-B, together with one new chlorinated steroid (3), one new gorgosterol (4), one known sesquiterpene (5), one known dibromoditerpene (6) and two known polyhydroxylated steroids (7-8) were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia brassica. The structures of these compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Their absolute configurations were also determined by the ECD calculations and DP4+ probability analysis. Antileishmanial activity of compounds 1-8 was evaluated in vitro against the amastigote forms of Leishmania donovani, in which compounds 3, 6, and 7 inhibited the growth of L. donovani by 58.7, 74.3, 54.7%, respectively, at a concentration of 50 μM. Antimicrobial effect of the isolated compounds were also evaluated against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Compound 6, a brominated diterpene, exhibited antimicrobial effect against S. aureus.

Different Macrophage Type Triggering as Target of the Action of Biologically Active Substances from Marine Invertebrates

Macrophages play a fundamental role in the immune system. Depending on the microenvironment stimuli, macrophages can acquire distinct phenotypes characterized with different sets of the markers of their functional activities. Polarization of macrophages towards M1 type (classical activation) is involved in inflammation and the related progression of diseases, while, in contrast, alternatively activated M2 macrophages are associated with the anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Reprogramming macrophages to switch their phenotypes could provide a new therapeutic strategy, and targeting the M1/M2 macrophage balance is a promising current trend in pharmacology. Marine invertebrates are a vast source of the variety of structurally diverse compounds with potent pharmacological activities. For years, a large number of studies concerning the immunomodulatory properties of the marine substances have been run with using some intracellular markers of immune stimulation or suppression irrespective of the possible application of marine compounds in reprogramming of macrophage activation, and only few reports clearly demonstrated the macrophage-polarizing activities of some marine compounds during the last decade. In this review, the data on the immunomodulating effects of the extracts and pure compounds of a variety of chemical structure from species of different classes of marine invertebrates are described with focus on their potential in shifting M1/M2 macrophage balance towards M1 or M2 phenotype.

Marine Invertebrate Extracts Induce Colon Cancer Cell Death via ROS-Mediated DNA Oxidative Damage and Mitochondrial Impairment

Marine compounds are a potential source of new anticancer drugs. In this study, the antiproliferative effects of 20 invertebrate marine extracts on three colon cancer cell models (HGUE-C-1, HT-29, and SW-480) were evaluated. Extracts from two nudibranchs (Phyllidia varicosa, NA and Dolabella auricularia, NB), a holothurian (Pseudocol ochirus violaceus, PS), and a soft coral (Carotalcyon sp., CR) were selected due to their potent cytotoxic capacities. The four marine extracts exhibited strong antiproliferative effects and induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M transition, which evolved into early apoptosis in the case of the CR, NA, and NB extracts and necrotic cell death in the case of the PS extract. All the extracts induced, to some extent, intracellular ROS accumulation, mitochondrial depolarization, caspase activation, and DNA damage. The compositions of the four extracts were fully characterized via HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS analysis, which identified up to 98 compounds. We propose that, among the most abundant compounds identified in each extract, diterpenes, steroids, and sesqui- and seterterpenes (CR); cembranolides (PS); diterpenes, polyketides, and indole terpenes (NA); and porphyrin, drimenyl cyclohexanone, and polar steroids (NB) might be candidates for the observed activity. We postulate that reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is responsible for the subsequent DNA damage, mitochondrial depolarization, and cell cycle arrest, ultimately inducing cell death by either apoptosis or necrosis.

Coral and Coral-Associated Microorganisms: A Prolific Source of Potential Bioactive Natural Products

Marine invertebrates and their associated microorganisms are rich sources of bioactive compounds. Among them, coral and its associated microorganisms are promising providers of marine bioactive compounds. The present review provides an overview of bioactive compounds that are produced by corals and coral-associated microorganisms, covering the literature from 2010 to March 2019. Accordingly, 245 natural products that possess a wide range of potent bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antivirus, and antifouling activities, among others, are described in this review.

Coral and Coral-Associated Microorganisms: A Prolific Source of Potential Bioactive Natural Products

Marine invertebrates and their associated microorganisms are rich sources of bioactive compounds. Among them, coral and its associated microorganisms are promising providers of marine bioactive compounds. The present review provides an overview of bioactive compounds that are produced by corals and coral-associated microorganisms, covering the literature from 2010 to March 2019. Accordingly, 245 natural products that possess a wide range of potent bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, antivirus, and antifouling activities, among others, are described in this review.

Marine Peroxy Sesquiterpenoids Induce Apoptosis by Modulation of Nrf2-ARE Signaling in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells

Our current study demonstrated that the marine peroxy sesquiterpenoids isolated from the Okinawan soft coral Sinularia sp. have an antitumor activity in human colon cancer cell (HCT) 116 colon cancer cells with their induction of apoptosis due to H₂O₂ production derived from the compounds. This study clarified that peroxy sesquiterpenoids (1 and 2) inhibited anti-apoptosis proteins, such as B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) and phosphoAkt (pAkt). In addition, the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor (Nrf2), and phosphoNrf2 (pNrf2) proteins related to the cell survival regulation signal of Nrf2-ARE (antioxidant response element) were also suppressed in the presence of these compounds. While the cells treated with the compounds and trolox as an antioxidant expressed the inhibited proteins, such as HO-1, Nrf2, and Bcl-xL, it was suggested that the H₂O₂ involving free radical reactions derived from the molecule would be a trigger of apoptosis with the modulation of Nrf2-ARE signaling in the cells.

Cytotoxic and Antifungal Terpenoids from Bornean Soft Coral, Sinularia flexibilis

One new cembrane, ent -sinuflexibilin D (1), along with seven known compounds (2-8) were isolated from a population of Bornean soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. Cytotoxicity and antifungal activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro. In addition, muurolene 7 was first isolates from a marine source.

Two new sesquiterpenes derivatives from marine fungus Leptosphaerulina Chartarum sp. 3608

Two new sesquiterpenes, leptoterpenes A (1) and B (2) were isolated from the fungus Leptosphaerulina Chartarum sp. 3608, derived from a crinoid. It was the first chemical study on this species. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including NMR and MS spectrometry. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined on the basis of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic circular dichroism data analysis. All compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory activity and the inhibitory effects on Tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterase II (TDP2).

Hydrogen peroxide derived from marine peroxy sesquiterpenoids induces apoptosis in HCT116 human colon cancer cells

In this study, the isolates of the peroxy sesquiterpenoids (1-3) from the Okinawan soft coral, Sinularia sp., indicated cytotoxicity in HCT116 colon cancer cells. The apoptotic cells with a nuclear condensation were detected in the presence of these compounds, then the caspase 3/7 activity was induced, indicating that the compounds have a potential antitumor activity by apoptosis-induction. The cells treated with these compounds were generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating that the ROS is related to the induction of apoptosis. The ROS production reduced in the presence of catalase or trolox, indicating that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is generated through a certain free radical reaction derived from the compound. In fact, the accumulation of intracellular H2O2 was also confirmed in the presence of these compounds. Based on all the results, this study proposed the apoptosis-inducing mechanism due to the compounds that the H2O2 produced involving free radical reactions derived from cleavage of the end or hydro-peroxide in the molecule induced cell death.

Chemical constituents of the soft corals Sinularia vanderlandi and Sinularia gravis from the coast of Madagascar

The crude extracts of the Madagascan soft corals Sinularia vanderlandi and Sinularia gravis (Alcyoniidae) showed activity against Plasmodium falciparum which led us to study their chemical constituents. The new cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid vanderlandin (1) has been obtained from S. vanderlandi along with 24-methylenecholesterol (2). Four new compounds, the spatane-type diterpenoid gravilin (3), the monoalkylmonoacylglycerol 4, the dihomoditerpenoid ketone 5, and isodecaryiol (9), along with the three known compounds (+)-(S)-geranyllinalool (6), (-)-(R)-nephthenol (7), and 11,12-epoxysarcophytol A (8) have been isolated from the methanol extract of S. gravis. The structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic methods, in particular various 2D NMR techniques. The structure of isodecaryiol (9) including its absolute configuration could be confirmed by X-ray diffraction.

Steroidal and α-tocopherylhydroquinone glycosides from two soft corals Cladiella hirsuta and Sinularia nanolobata

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory glycosides were isolated from two soft corals,Cladiella hirsutaandSinularia nanolobata. Compounds3and4represent the first example of tocopheryl xyloside derivatives.

Marine natural products

This review covers the literature published in 2012 for marine natural products, with 1035 citations (673 for the period January to December 2012) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1241 for 2012), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that lead to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included.

Anti-inflammatory activities of natural products isolated from soft corals of Taiwan between 2008 and 2012

This review reports details on the natural products isolated from Taiwan soft corals during the period 2008–2012 focusing on their in vitro and/or in vivo anti-inflammatory activities. Chemical structures, names, and literature references are also reported. This review provides useful and specific information on potent anti-inflammatory marine metabolites for future development of immune-modulatory therapeutics.

Asteriscane-type sesquiterpenoids from the soft coral Sinularia capillosa

Chemical examination of the soft coral Sinularia capillosa collected from the South China Sea resulted in the isolation of 14 new asteriscane-type sesquiterpenoids, namely, capillosananes A-N (1-14), four new seco-asteriscanes, capillosananes O-R (15-18), and (-)-sinularone A and sinularone A. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the absolute configurations were determined by CD and ECD calculation, Mosher's method, and chemical conversion. This is the first report of asteriscane-type sesquiterpenoids from soft corals, and capillosananes Q (17) and R (18) represent new seco-asteriscane skeletons. Capillosanane A exhibited potent antifouling activity against Balanus amphitrite, with an IC₅₀ value of 9.70 μM, while capillosananes B and I and (-)-sinularone A inhibited inflammation-related TNF-α in vitro.

Natural sesquiterpenoids

This review covers the isolation, structural determination, synthesis and chemical and microbiological transformations of natural sesquiterpenoids. The literature from January to December 2012 is reviewed, and 471 references are cited.

A soft coral-derived compound, 11-epi-sinulariolide acetate suppresses inflammatory response and bone destruction in adjuvant-induced arthritis

In recent years, a significant number of metabolites with potent anti-inflammatory properties have been discovered from marine organisms, and several of these compounds are now under clinical trials. In the present study, we isolated 11-epi-sinulariolide acetate (Ya-s11), a cembrane-type compound with anti-inflammatory effects, from the Formosa soft coral Sinularia querciformis. Preliminary screening revealed that Ya-s11 significantly inhibited the expression of the proinflammatory proteins induced nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophages. We also examined the therapeutic effects of Ya-s11 on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in female Lewis rats, which demonstrate features similar to human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Animal experiments revealed that Ya-s11 (subcutaneously 9 mg/kg once every 2 days from day 7 to day 28 postimmunization) significantly inhibited AIA characteristics. Moreover, Ya-s11 also attenuated protein expression of cathepsin K, matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in ankle tissues of AIA-rats. Based on its attenuation of the expression of proinflammatory proteins and disease progression in AIA rats, the marine-derived compound Ya-s11 may serve as a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA.