Cytotoxic and Anti-Inflammatory Metabolites from the Soft Coral Scleronephthya gracillimum

摘要

Five new pregnane-type steroids, sclerosteroids J–N (>1–>5), and a diterpenoid with a new chemotype 3-methyl-5-(10′-acetoxy-2′,6′,10′-trimethylundecyl)-2-penten-5-olide (>6), have been isolated from a soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compound >4 exhibited cytotoxicity against HepG2, A549, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Furthermore, steroids >2 and >4 were found to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein, and >1, >2, >4 and >5 could effectively reduce the accumulation of COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.