Halipeptins A and B: two novel potent anti-inflammatory cyclic depsipeptides from the Vanuatu marine sponge Haliclona species.

Two new metabolites, named halipeptins A and B, have been isolated from the marine sponge Haliclona sp. Their structures were determined by extensive use of one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, mass spectrometry, and UV and IR spectroscopy. Halipeptin A is a novel 17-membered cyclic depsipeptide, consisting of five residues including two alanines (with L stereochemistry) and three new residues that appear to be previously undescribed from natural sources: 1,2-oxazetidine-4-methyl-4-carboxylic acid, 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-7-methoxydecanoic acid (HTMMD), and N-methyl-delta-hydroxyisoleucine. The HTMMD residue is substituted with 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-7-hydroxydecanoic acid in halipeptin B. Halipeptin A was found to possess very potent anti-inflammatory activity in vivo, causing about 60% inhibition of edema in mice at the dose of 300 microg/kg (i.p.).