Two new cembrane-based diterpenoids from the marine soft coral Sinularia crassa.

Two new cembrane diterpenes, sicrassarines A and B, were isolated from the Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia crassa. The structures of the new metabolites were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, particularly mass spectroscopy and 2D NMR (¹H--¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) spectroscopy.

1. Introduction

Marine soft corals of the genus Sinularia have attracted a great deal of attention in light of the structural diversity of and wide range of biological activities of their metabolites, including terpenoids and sterols [1]. In previous reports, cembrane-type diterpenes have been stated to occur in relatively few terrestrial organisms, such as tobacco leaves, pine oleoresins and termite secretions. In contrast, they are generally the major components of marine octocorals [2]. Research into the pharmacological properties of this class of natural products is of particular interest. Our previous chemical examination of soft corals of the genus Sinularia led to the isolation and identification of various oxygenated cembrane-type metabolites [3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Some of these have been found to possess several kinds of biological activities, such as cytotoxic [3] and anti-inflammatory properties [4,5,6,8,9]. The current chemical investigation of Sinularia crassa led to the discovery of two new cembrane-based diterpenoids, sicrassarines A and B (1 and 2). The structures of 1 and 2 were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including extensive examination of two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) [1H–1H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) and heteronuclear multiple bond connectivity (HMBC)] correlations. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 2 against human promyelocytic leukemia (HL60), human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231), human colon adenocarcinoma (HCT-116) and human colorectal carcinoma (DLD-1) cell lines was studied.

2. Results and Discussion

Frozen samples of S. crassa (Figure 1) were extracted with EtOAc. The dry EtOAc extracts were fractionated by silica gel gravity column chromatography, and the eluted fractions were further purified by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) to yield cembranoids 1 and 2 (Figure 2). The new compounds were given the trivial names sicrassarine A (1) and sicrassarine B (2).

Figure 1

Soft coral Sinularia crassa.

Figure 2

Structures of 1 and 2.

Sicrassarine A (1) was isolated as a colorless oil. The high resolution electrospray mass spectra (HR-ESI-MS) spectrum of 1 exhibited a molecular ion peak at m/z 361.2358 [M + Na]+, with the molecular formula C20H34O4, implying four degrees of unsaturation. The infrared (IR) spectrum of 1 revealed the presence of hydroxy (νmax = 3435 cm−1) and carbonyl functionalities (νmax = 1700 cm−1). The 13C-NMR data of 1 showed the presence of 20 carbons (Table 1): five methyls, six sp3 methylenes, four sp3 methines (including two oxygenated carbons at δ 70.8 and 63.7), one sp2 methine and four quaternary carbons (including two oxygenated carbons at δ 74.7 and 61.1, one olefinic carbon at δ 152.8, and one keto-carbonyl at δ 212.0). The 1H-NMR data (Table 1) revealed the presence of one olefinic proton (δ 5.39, d, J = 9.0 Hz) and one oxygenated methine (δ 4.37, d, J = 8.5 Hz). A proton signal at δ 2.79 (1H, dd, J = 9.5, 4.0 Hz) that correlated with a carbon signal at δ 63.7 in the HMQC spectrum of 1 was attributed to the proton of a trisubstituted epoxide.

Table 1

1H and 13C NMR datafor 1 and 2.

	1			2
	δH (J in Hz) a	δC (mult.) b		δH (J in Hz) a	δC (mult.) b
1		152.8 (C)				152.5 (C)
2	5.39 d (9.0)	119.9 (CH) c		5.07 d (8.0)		120.6 (CH)
3	4.37 d (8.5)	70.8 (CH)		4.62 d (8.0)		71.1 (CH)
4		74.7 (C)				74.4 (C)
5	2.74 d (15.0); 2.67 d (15.0)	51.6 (CH2)		2.89 d (18.5); 2.57 d (18.5)		46.2 (CH2)
6		212.0 (C)				213.0 (C)
7	2.63 dd (16.0, 9.0); 2.30 m	51.9 (CH2)		2.47 dd (14.5, 4.5); 2.05 m		52.8 (CH2)
8	2.13 m	29.6 (CH)		1.84 m		31.4 (CH)
9	1.40 m	31.6 (CH2)		1.24 m		31.1 (CH2)
10	1.91 m; 1.20 m	25.0 (CH2)		1.99 m; 1.18 m		26.3 (CH2)
11	2.79 dd (9.5, 4.0)	63.7 (CH)		2.65 dd (9.5, 2.5)		62.8 (CH)
12		61.1 (C)				60.0 (C)
13	2.18 m; 1.10 m	37.3 (CH2)		2.10 m; 1.74 m		33.1 (CH2)
14	2.39 m; 2.16 m	26.0 (CH2)		2.21 m; 2.02 m		25.7 (CH2)
15	2.28 m	32.0 (CH)		3.08 m		29.7 (CH)
16	1.02 d (7.0)	22.5 (CH3)		1.05 d (7.0)		21.7 (CH3)
17	1.05 d (7.0)	21.0 (CH3)		1.06 d (7.0)		21.2 (CH3)
18	1.32 s	24.6 (CH3)		1.33 s		22.0 (CH3)
19	0.96 d (6.5)	19.9 (CH3)		0.98 d (6.5)		20.0 (CH3)
20	1.24 s	16.4 (CH3)		1.20 s		18.6 (CH3)
4-OH				3.86 s

500 MHz in CDCl3; 125 MHz in CDCl3; Numbers of attached protons were deduced by DEPT experiments.

The gross planar structure of 1 was determined by detailed analysis of its 1D and 2D NMR spectra (Figure 3). 1H–1H COSY spectral analysis established four partial structures of consecutive proton spin systems (Figure 3). These data, together with the HMBC correlations (Figure 3) from H-2 to C-1 and C-14, H2-5 to C-3, C-4 and C-6 (carbonyl carbon), H-7 to C-6 and C-9, H2-13 to C-11 and C-13, and H2-14 to C-1 established the connectivity within the 14-membered ring. The methyl groups attached at C-4, C-8 and C-12 were confirmed by the HMBC correlations from H3-18 to C-3, C-4 and C-5, H3-19 to C-7, C-8 and C-9, and H3-20 to C-11, C-12 and C-13. An isopropyl moiety attached at C-1 was confirmed by the HMBC correlations from both methyl H3-16 and H3-17 to C-1 and C-15. Thus, 1 was found to possess one trisubstituted olefin at C-1/C-2, one ketone group at C-6, and one trisubstituted epoxide at C-11/C-12.

Figure 3

Key 1H-1H COSY and HMBC correlations of 1 and 2.

The relative configuration of 1, elucidated mainly from the nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) spectrum, was compatible with that of 1 ascertained using molecular mechanics calculations (MM2), which suggested the most stable conformations, as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4

Selective NOESY correlations of 1 and 2.

In the NOESY spectrum, H-3 showed a nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) with H3-20 but not with H3-18. Thus, assuming the α-orientation of H-3, H3-20 should be positioned on the α face. Moreover, H3-18 should be positioned on the β face. In addition, H-11 was found to interact with one proton of the C-13 methylene (δ 1.10), but not with H3-20, revealing the trans geometry of the trisubstituted epoxide. In addition, one proton of the C-10 methylene (δ 1.91) was found to exhibit correlations with H-11 and H3-19, indicating that these protons are situated on the same face. On the basis of the above findings and other detailed NOE correlations (Figure 4), the structure of 1 was established unambiguously.

Sicrassarine B (2) had the same molecular formula (C20H34O4) as 1, as indicated by HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectra (Table 1). Comparison of the 1H and 13C NMR data of 2 with those of 1 revealed that the two compounds possessed similar structures. The planar structure and all of the 1H and 13C chemical shifts of 2 were elucidated by 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, in particular 1H–1H COSY and HMBC experiments (Figure 3). Thus, 2 was found to possess one trisubstituted olefin at C-1/C-2, two hydroxy groups at C-3 and C-4, one ketone group at C-6 and one trisubstituted epoxide at C-11/C-12. Careful analysis of the NOESY spectrum of 2, in comparison with that of 1, allowed determination of the relative stereochemistry of 2, as shown in Figure 4. Thus, the structure of 2 was established.

Finally, we used a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to examine the cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 and 2 against several cancer cells, including HL60 (human promyelocytic leukemia), MDA-MB-231 [human breast adenocarcinoma (grade III)], DLD-1 (human colon adenocarcinoma) and HCT-116 (human colorectal carcinoma) cancer cells. Cells were treated with different concentrations of 1 and 2 for 72 hr. The viability of the various cancer cells was not significantly decreased by 50%, even under treatment with 20 μg/mL of 1 and 2. In addition, the IC50 values of compounds 1 and 2 were both over 20 μg/mL (Table 2). The results showed that these two compounds did not possess cytotoxicity against these cancer cells.

Table 2

Cytotoxicity (IC50 μg/mL) of compounds 1 and 2.

	Cell Lines
Compound	HL60	MDA-MB-231	DLD-1	HCT-116
1	NA b	NA b	NA b	NA b
2	NA b	NA b	NA b	NA b
Doxorubicin a	0.058	6.31	5.71	0.51

Clinical anticancer drug used as a positive control. NA, not active at 20 μg/mL.

3. Experimental

3.1. General

Optical rotation values were measured using a Jasco P-1010 digital polarimeter. IR spectra were recorded on a Varian Digilab FTS 1000 Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer. NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Unity INOVA 500 Fourier transform-nuclear magnetic resonance (FT-NMR) instrument at 500 MHz for 1H-NMR and 125 MHz for 13C-NMR, respectively, in CDCl3 (Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Inc.). ESIMS and HRESIMS data were recorded with a Bruker APEX II mass spectrometer. Gravity column chromatography was performed on silica gel (230–400 mesh, Merck). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was carried out on precoated Kieselgel 60 F254 (0.2 mm, Merck) and spots were visualized by spraying with 10% H2SO4 solution followed by heating. HPLC was performed using a system comprised of a Hitachi L-7100 pump and a Rheodyne 7725 injection port. A preparative normal phase column (Hibar 250 × 21.2 mm, Supelco, silica gel 60, 5 μm) was used for HPLC.

3.2. Animal Material

The marine soft coral S. crassa (Tixier-Durivault, 1945) was collected by scuba divers at a depth of around 10 m off the coast of Taitung County, Taiwan, in October 2011, and the sample was frozen immediately after collection. A voucher sample was deposited at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Taiwan (specimen no. 2011-1012-7). This species in situ is chip block in shape and appears pale yellow (Figure 1). Under atmospheric conditions, the exterior becomes a medium brown shade while the interior displays a light beige shade. Interior sclerites are large tuberculate spindles and sclerites of surface layer are clubs and small narrow spindles (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Sclerites of the interior and surface of the colony.

3.3. Extraction and Separation

The frozen bodies of soft coral (0.8 kg, fresh wt.) were collected and freeze-dried. The freeze-dried (350 g) material was minced and extracted exhaustively with EtOAc (5 × 1 L). The organic extract was evaporated to yield a residue (10.5 g), which was fractionated by open column chromatography on silica gel using n–hexane-EtOAc and EtOAc–acetone mixtures of increasing polarity to yield 15 fractions. Fraction 12, eluting with n-hexane-EtOAc (1:1), was further separated by silica gel column chromatography with gradient elution (n-hexane-EtOAc, 2:1 to 1:2) to yield five subfractions (12A–12E). Subfraction 12C was subjected to normal phase HPLC with n-hexane-acetone (3:1) as the eluent (flow rate 3 mL/min) to obtain compounds 1 (2.5 mg, 0.024% dry wt of extract) and 2 (1.2 mg, 0.011% dry wt of extract).

Sicrassarine A (1): colorless oil; = +77 (c 0.2, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3435, 2958, 2928, 2870, 1700, 1461 and 1377 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data, see Table 1; ESIMS m/z 361 [100, (M + Na)+]; HRESIMS m/z 361.2358 (calcd. for C20H34O4Na, 361.2355).

Sicrassarine B (2): colorless oil; = +37.0 (c 0.1, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3426, 2957, 2924, 2854, 1697, 1458 and 1375 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data, see Table 1; ESIMS m/z 361 [100, (M + Na)+]; HRESIMS m/z 361.2358 (calcd. for C20H34O4Na, 361.2355).

3.4. Cytotoxicity Testing

Cell lines were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Cytotoxicity assays of compounds 1 and 2 were performed using the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] colorimetric method [10,11].

3.5. Molecular Mechanics Calculations

Implementation of the MM2 force filed in Chem3D Pro software [12] was used to calculate the molecular models.

4. Conclusions

In previous studies, a series of novel secondary metabolites, including sphingosines [13,14], steroids [15] and cembranoids [16], have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia crassa. Among these compounds, one sphingosine and two cembranoids have been found to possess anti-inflammatory activity [13,14,16]. Furthermore, one steroid has been found to possess 5α-reductase inhibitory activity [15]. Our ongoing investigation on the chemical constituents of soft coral S. crassa has now led to the isolation and identiofication of two new cembranoids. The present investigation demonstrated that the two metabolites 1 and 2 were inactive (IC50’s > 20 μg/mL) towards the growth of HL60, MDA-MB-231, DLD-1 and HCT-116 cancer cells.