The cyclorenierins, sesquiterpenoid quinols from the sponge Haliclona sp. collected in Vanuatu

Natural 6-hydroxy-chromanols and -chromenols: structural diversity, biosynthetic pathways and health implications

We present the first comprehensive and systematic review on the structurally diverse toco-chromanols and -chromenols found in photosynthetic organisms, including marine organisms, and as metabolic intermediates in animals. The focus of this work is on the structural diversity of chromanols and chromenols that result from various side chain modifications. We describe more than 230 structures that derive from a 6-hydroxy-chromanol- and 6-hydroxy-chromenol core, respectively, and comprise di-, sesqui-, mono- and hemiterpenes. We assort the compounds into a structure-activity relationship with special emphasis on anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities of the congeners. This review covers the literature published from 1970 to 2017.

Redox Inactivation of Human 15-Lipoxygenase by Marine-Derived Meroditerpenes and Synthetic Chromanes: Archetypes for a Unique Class of Selective and Recyclable Inhibitors

The selective inhibition of human 15-lipoxygenase (15-hLO) could serve as a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of atherosclerosis. A screening of marine sponges revealed that crude extracts of Psammocinia sp. exhibited potent 15-hLO inhibitory activity. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of chromarols A-E (8-12) as potent and selective inhibitors of 15-hLO. An additional 22 structurally related compounds, including meroditerpenes from the same Psammocinia sp. (3, 4, 13-16) and our pure compound repository (17, 18), commercially available tocopherols (19-24), and synthetic chromanes (25-32), were evaluated for their ability to inhibit human lipoxygenases. The 6-hydroxychromane moiety found in chromarols A-D was identified as essential for the selective redox inhibition of 15-hLO. Furthermore, the oxidized form of the 6-hydroxychromane could be reduced by ascorbate, suggesting a potential regeneration pathway for these inhibitors in the body. This pharmacophore represents a promising paradigm for the development of a unique class of recyclable 15-hLO redox inhibitors for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Haliclostanone sulfate and halistanol sulfate from an Indo-Pacific Haliclona sponge

Two steroids, haliclostanone sulfate (1) and halistanol sulfate (3), were isolated from a Haliclona sp. marine sponge. The structure of the new compound 1 was established based on its spectroscopic data and the properties of a pentaacetate derivative 2. Compound 1 is unique in that it possesses the rare cis C/D ring junction precedented only in marine sterols, contignasterol (4) and xestobergsterols A (5), B (6), and C (7).