Metabolities from Marine Sponges of the Genus Callyspongia: Occurrence, Biological Activity, and NMR Data

Natural and Bioinspired Lipidic Alkynylcarbinols as Leishmanicidal, Antiplasmodial, Trypanocidal, Fungicidal, Antibacterial, and Antimycobacterial Agents

The present review article recapitulates for the first time the antipathogenic biological data of a series of lipidic natural products and synthetic analogues thereof characterized by the presence in their structure of an alkynylcarbinol unit. The cytotoxic properties of such natural and bioinspired compounds have been covered by several literature overviews, but to date, no review article detailing their activity against pathogens has been proposed. This article thus aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the field including early studies from the 1970s and 1980s with a specific focus on results published from the late 1990s until nowadays. Publications presenting the data of almost 50 different natural products are reported. Detailed activities encompass the fields of leishmanicidal, antiplasmodial, trypanocidal, fungicidal, and mainly antibacterial and antimycobacterial compounds. The few published studies aimed at exploring the structure-activity relationship in these series are also described. Around 15 different synthetic analogues of natural products, selected among the most active reported, are also presented. The rare data available regarding the antipathogenic mode of action of these products are recalled, and finally, a comparative analysis of the available biological data is proposed with the aim of identifying the key structural determinants for the bioactivity against pathogens of these unusual compounds.

A Review of Sponge-Derived Diterpenes: 2009-2022

Sponges are a vital source of pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites, of which the main structural types are alkaloids and terpenoids. Many of these compounds exhibit biological activities. Focusing specifically on diterpenoids, this article reviews the structures and biological activities of 228 diterpenes isolated from more than 33 genera of sponges from 2009 to 2022. The Spongia sponges produce the most diterpenoid molecules among all genera, accounting for 27%. Of the 228 molecules, 110 exhibit cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and antifouling activities, among others. The most prevalent activity is cytotoxicity, present in 54 molecules, which represent 24% of the diterpenes reported. These structurally and biologically diverse diterpenoids highlight the vast, yet largely untapped, potential of marine sponges in the discovery of new bioactive molecules for medicinal use.

Combination of Callyspongia sp. and Stem Cells for Wound Repair and Skin Regeneration: in Vivo and in Silico Evidences

Delayed healing of chronic wounds results in amputation and mortality rates in serious cases. The present study examines the merged wound-restorative efficacy of injectable bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) and topical Callyspongia sp. extract in immunocompromised rats. HR-LC-MS analysis of Callyspongia sp. extract tentatively identified twenty-nine compounds (1-29) and highlighted its richness in fatty acids and terpenoids, known for their wound regenerating efficacies. The wound closure was greatly prominent in the BMMSCs/Callyspongia sp. group in contrast to the control group (p<0.001). The RT-PCR gene expression emphasized these results by attenuating the oxidative, inflammatory, and immunity markers, further confirmed by histopathological findings. Additionally, in silico modeling was particularly targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), a key player in wound healing processes. Computational analysis revealed that compounds 18 and 19 potentially modulate MMP9 activity. The combination of BMMSCs and topical Callyspongia sp. extract holds a promise for regenerative therapy constituting a drastic advance in the wound cure of immunocompromised patients, eventually further safety assessments and clinical trials are required.

Marine natural products

Covering: January to December 2021This review covers the literature published in 2021 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 736 citations (724 for the period January to December 2021) 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 (1425 in 416 papers for 2021), 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 the number of authors, their affiliations, domestic and international collection locations, focus of MNP studies, citation metrics and journal choices is discussed.

Callyspongia spp.: Secondary Metabolites, Pharmacological Activities, and Mechanisms

One of the most widespread biotas in the sea is the sponge. Callyspongia is a sponge genus found in the seas, making it easily available. In this review, the pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of the secondary metabolites of Callyspongia spp. are addressed, which may lead to the development of new drugs and targeted therapeutic approaches. Several scientific databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Science Direct, Springer Link, and Wiley Online Library, were mined to obtain relevant information. In the 41 articles reviewed, Callyspongia spp. was reported to possess pharmacological activities such as cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (36%), antifungal (10%), anti-inflammatory (10%), immunomodulatory (10%), antidiabetic and antiobesity (6%), antimicrobial (8%), antioxidant (4%), antineurodegenerative (4%), antihypercholesterolemic (2%), antihypertensive (2%), antiparasitic (2%), antiallergic (2%), antiviral (2%), antiosteoporotic (2%), and antituberculosis (2%) activities. Of these, the antioxidant, antituberculosis, and anti-inflammatory activities of Callyspongia extract were weaker compared with that of the control drugs; however, other activities, particularly cytotoxicity, show promise, and the compounds responsible may be developed into new drugs.

Computational Metabolomics Tools Reveal Subarmigerides, Unprecedented Linear Peptides from the Marine Sponge Holobiont Callyspongia subarmigera

A detailed examination of a unique molecular family, restricted to the Callyspongia genus, in a molecular network obtained from an in-house Haplosclerida marine sponge collection (including Haliclona, Callyspongia, Xestospongia, and Petrosia species) led to the discovery of subarmigerides, a series of rare linear peptides from Callyspongia subarmigera, a genus mainly known for polyacetylenes and lipids. The structure of the sole isolated peptide, subarmigeride A (1) was elucidated through extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HRMS/MS, and Marfey's method to assign its absolute configuration. The putative structures of seven additional linear peptides were proposed by an analysis of their respective MS/MS spectra and a comparison of their fragmentation patterns with the heptapeptide 1. Surprisingly, several structurally related analogues of subarmigeride A (1) occurred in one distinct cluster from the molecular network of the cyanobacteria strains of the Guadeloupe mangroves, suggesting that the true producer of this peptide family might be the microbial sponge-associated community, i.e., the sponge-associated cyanobacteria.