Anti-inflammatory eunicellin-based diterpenoids from the cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex.

Three novel eunicellin-based diterpenoids, namely klysimplexin sulfoxides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the cultured soft coral Klyxum simplex. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly 1D and 2D-NMR experiments. Compounds 1-3 significantly inhibited the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Compound 3 also showed marked activity in inhibiting the expression of COX-2 protein in the same cells.