Sarcoroseolides A-D, four undescribed cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton roseum

Marine natural products

Covering: January to the end of December 2022This review covers the literature published in 2022 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 645 citations (633 for the period January to December 2022) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, the submerged parts of mangroves and other intertidal plants. The emphasis is on new compounds (1417 in 384 papers for 2022), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. An analysis of NP structure class diversity in relation to biota source and biome is discussed.

A new cembranoid from the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton acutum

The Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton acutum ethyl acetate extract has afforded one new cembranoid; sarcacutumolid A (1), along with six known metabolites have been isolated from S. acutum for the first time (2-7). Chemical structures were elucidated by employing several spectroscopic analyses. The cytotoxic potential of the isolated compounds was assessed against four human cancer cell lines; hepatocellular (HepG2), cervical (HeLa), breast (MCF-7) and colorectal cancer (Colo-205). Sarcacutumolid A (1) and gorgosterol (7) inhibited colorectal cancer cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 35.5 and 44.0 μM, respectively.

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

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.