Meroditerpenoids from the brown alga Sargassum siliquastrum.

Eleven new meroditerpenoids (7-11, 14-17, 19, 20) and nine known compounds (1-6, 12, 13, 18) were isolated from the brown alga Sargassum siliquastrum. Combined chemical and spectroscopic analyses revealed a common tetraprenyl hydroquinone structure; these compounds belonged to the nahocol, isonahocol, and sargahydroquinoic acid classes. The dihydroquinone moiety of 20 was unique and unprecedented in a brown alga. Stereochemical assignments were made for several of the known compounds based on their chemical reactivity. These compounds exhibited moderate to significant radical-scavenging activity as well as weak inhibitory activities against sortase A and isocitrate lyase.