Planta Med 2014; 80 - P1N6
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1394597

Pinnigorgiols A-D, novel ring rearrangement 9,11-secosterols from a formosan gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp

YC Chang 1, PJ Sung 2, 3
  • 1Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-sen University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
  • 2National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan
  • 3Graduate Institute of Marine Biology, National Dong Hwa University, Pingtung 944, Taiwan

Previous chemical investigations on soft corals and gorgonian corals have led to the isolation and identification of various 9,11-secosterols. Some of these have exhibited a diverse array of pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory. Using our experience searching for new bioactive compounds from soft corals and gorgonian corals, we carried out the first chemical investigation of the gorgonian coral Pinnigorgia sp. with the aim of discovering interesting new natural products. Our chemical investigation of this gorgonian coral led to the isolation of four novel steroids, pinnigorgiols A-D (1-4). Their chemical structures were elucidated by comprehensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, supported by mass spectrometry. Compounds 1-4 possesses the novel steroid carbon skeleton, including a tricyclo[5,2,1,1]decane ring. Pinnigorgiol A (1) was found to exhibit cytotoxicity towards human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM) and human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) with the IC50 values of 11.6 and 9.1 µg/mL, respectively.

Fig. 1: Pinnigorgiols A-D.

Keywords: Gorgonian, Pinnigorgia, Pinnigorgiol