Briareolate esters from the gorgonian Briareum asbestinum.

Two new briarane diterpenoids briareolate esters J (1) and K (2) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the octocoral Briareum asbestinum collected off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida. The structures of briaranes 1 and 2 were elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data. Briareolate ester K (2) showed weak growth inhibition activity against human embryonic stem cells (BG02).

1. Introduction

Gorgonian corals have provided an abundance of novel structures with many of these demonstrating potentially useful biological activities. The gorgonian Briareum asbestinum has shown to be a plentiful source of diterpenoids belonging to the eunicellin, asbestinane, cembrane, and briarane classes and display numerous biological activities (e.g., cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, immunomodulatory, antifouling, and ichthotoxicity) [1]. Briarane-type diterpenoids contain a highly oxidized bicyclo[8.4.0] system of which most contain a γ-lactone ring. The briareolate esters are a small group of briarane diterpenoids isolated from Briareum asbestinum that contain a C-19 methyl ester instead of the typical γ-lactone ring [2,3,4].

As part of an ongoing study to discover compounds that impact human embryonic stem cell (hESC) growth we have been screening pre-fractionated and semi-purified marine natural product extract libraries generated using a solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure followed by semi-preparative high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) directed fractionation (Figure 1). The cell growth inhibitory activities of the pre-fractionated extract libraries are then evaluated against human embryonic stem cells (BG02) using a 96-well plate real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system to identify compounds that impact self-renewal, differentiation or apoptosis. A plot of cell index (impedance) versus time is used to indicate relative proliferation, differentiation, or death in real-time (Figure 2).

Figure 1

HPLC chromatogram of the pre-fractionated extract of B. asbestinum showing the fractions separated using ELSD-directed collection to generate a semi-purified extract library for biological screening.

Figure 2

A cell index vs. time plot for a pre-fractionated extract library of B. asbestinum against the BG02 cell line. A drop in cell index within the first 24–48 h after addition of the compounds is interpreted as toxicity or induction of apoptosis.

Our previous work using this approach on B. asbestinum resulted in the isolation of three new briareolate esters L–N (3–5) [5]. This included the biologically active compound briareolate ester L (3) that was found to possess a 10-membered macrocyclic ring with a (E,Z)-dieneone and was shown to contain a “spring loaded” Michael acceptor that is capable of forming a reversible covalent bond to model sulfur-based nucleophiles. In the present study we report the isolation and structural elucidation of two additional new briarane diterpenoids briareolate esters J (1) and K (2), along with three known compounds from the methanolic extract of B. asbestinum that was found to exhibit growth inhibition against BG02 cells (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Structures of compounds 1–7.

2. Results and Discussion

Specimens of Briareum asbestinum (Figure 4) were collected at Hillsboro Ledge, Boca Raton Florida and kept frozen until extraction. The methanolic extract was first fractionated on polymeric HP-20 resin using cyclic loading [6]. The HP-20 column was eluted with 800 mL fractions of (1) H2O, (2) 40% Me2CO/H2O, (3) 75% Me2CO/H2O and (4) Me2CO. The Me2CO fraction was then subjected to column chromatography on HP-20SS and normal phase HPLC to yield two new briareolate esters J (1) and K (2) and three known briareolate esters D (6), G (7), and M (4).

Figure 4

Briareum asbestinum.

Briareolate ester J (1) was isolated as a colorless oil. The molecular formula of briareolate ester J (1), C33H50O9, was determined from the HRESIMS of the [M + Na]+ ion at m/z 613.3346, 98 mass units higher than that of briareolate ester G (7). The presence of a ketone conjugated with two double bonds (α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketone) was indicated from a carbonyl carbon with a chemical shift of δC 207 (C-9), and the C-C double bond carbons [δC 146.3 (C-5), δC 125.3 (C-6), δC 140.9 (C-7), δC 146.3 (C-8)]. The observation of absorption maxima at λmax = 287 and 225 nm in the UV spectrum was consistent with this assignment. NOE correlations observed from the olefinic proton H-6 to H-7 and H3-16, together with correlations from H-7 to both H-17 and H3-18, established the (Z,Z)-configuration of the dieneone and the s-cis conformation of the diene (Figure 5). Additionally, the upfield chemical shift of the olefinic proton H-7 in 1 at δH 6.74 compared toδH 7.64 in the (E,Z)-dieneone briareolate ester L (3), with the s-trans diene conformation, confirmed this assignment [5].

Figure 5

Selected 2D NMR correlations for briareolate ester J (1).

A close inspection of the 1H and 13C NMR data (Table 1) revealed the similarity of 1 to that of briareolate ester G (7), except that H-12 [δH 4.89, br s] was shifted downfield by 1.24 ppm as compared with that of 1. In addition, in the 13C NMR spectrum the resonance of C-12 (δC 73.7) was shifted downfield by 2.7 ppm and those of C-11 (δC 38.4) and C-13 (δC 30.2) were shifted upfield by 0.5 and 1.3 ppm, respectively, in comparison with those of 1 [4]. This suggested that the 12-hydroxy group of 7, was replaced by a hexanoate group at C-12 in 1, as observed in briareolate esters M (4) and N (5). The presence of the hexanoate group was confirmed by the NMR data [δH 0.92 (3H, t, J = 8.0 Hz), ca. 1.31 (4H, overlapped), 1.63 (2H, overlapped), 2.32 (2H, m), δC 17.6 (q), 24.0, 26.3, 33.0, and 36.1 (each t), 175.1 (CO)]. These assignments were confirmed by COSY, HSQC, and HMBC correlations similar to those observed for 4, 5 and 7 (Figure 5). The relative configuration of briareolate ester J (1) was determined to be the same as that of 7 from the similarity of proton-proton coupling constants and 1H and 13C chemical shifts together with NOE correlations observed in a ROESY experiment (Figure 5).

Table 1

NMR Spectroscopic Data for Briareolate Esters J (1) and K (2) a.

position	1		2
	δC, mult	δH ( J in Hz)	δC, mult	δH ( J in Hz)
1	46.4, C		48.8, C
2	73.7, CH	5.17, br d (6.0)	80.5, CH	5.52, d (8.0)
3α	31.3, CH2	1.89, m	31.1, CH2	2.31, m
3β		1.89, m		1.58, m
4α	30.2, CH2	2.20, m	34.1, CH2	2.53, dd (18.0, 8.0)
4β		2.08, m		2.28, m
5	146.3, C		147.1, C
6	125.3, CH	6.12, br s	116.2, CH	5.47, br d (4.0)
7	140.9, CH	6.74, br s	64.3, CH	4.42, br d (4.0)
8	146.3, C		71.3, C
9	207.0, C		211.5, C
10	48.3, CH	3.79, d (12.0)	44.7, CH	3.06, d (12.0)
11	38.4, CH	2.19, m	36.2, CH	2.34, m
12	73.7, CH	4.89, br s	72.6, CH	4.98, br s
13α	30.2,CH2	2.05, m	29.9, CH2	2.05, br d (16.0)
13β		1.86, m		1.99, m
14	75.6, CH	4.68, br s	74.6, CH	4.69, br s
15	14.9, CH3	1.19, s	12.8, CH3	0.99, s
16	26.3, CH3	2.19, s	26.8, CH3	1.75, s
17	46.4, CH	3.45, q (8.0)	40.8, CH	2.39, q (8.0)
18	19.8, CH3	1.32, d (8.0)	13.5, CH3	1.29, d (8.0)
19	176.7, C		175.3, C
20	17.6, CH3	0.79, d (8.0)	16.8, CH3	0.75, d (8.0)
OMe	52.8, CH3	3.62, s	52.5, CH3	3.61, s
ester at C-2	175.1, C		174.3, C
	37.7, CH2	2.19, m	37.9, CH2	2.25, m
	19.2, CH2	1.57, m	19.7, CH2	1.60, m
	14.5, CH3	0.92, t (8.0)	14.5, CH3	0.93, t (8.0)
ester at C-12	175.1, C		175.4, C
	36.1, CH2	2.32, m	35.9 CH2	2.37, m
	26.3, CH2	1.63, m	26.4 CH2	1.64, m
	33.0, CH2	1.31, m	33.0 CH2	1.33, m
	24.0, CH2	1.31, m	24.0 CH2	1.33, m
	17.6, CH3	0.92, t (8.0)	14.8 CH3	0.95, t (8.0)
ester at C-14	172.1, C		172.6, C
	22.1, CH3	1.98, s	22.3 CH3	1.99, s

a In CD3OD, 400 MHz for 1H and 100 MHz for 13C NMR.

Briareolate ester K (2) was isolated as a colorless oil. The molecular formula of briareolate ester K (2), C33H50O10, was determined from the HRESIMS of the [M + Na]+ ion at m/z 629.3291, one more oxygen atom than that of briareolate ester J (1). A comparison of the 1H and 13C NMR data (Table 1) revealed that 2 was similar to 1, except that the NMR signals for the C-7–C-8 double bond were missing in the NMR spectra of 2, and instead, resonances for an epoxide were observed in the 1H NMR (δ 4.42, H-6) and 13C NMR [δC 64.3 (s); 71.3 (d)] spectra indicating oxidation of the C-7–C-8 double bond to be an epoxide. HMBC correlations from the oxygenated methine signal at δ 4.42 (H-7) to C-5 (δ 147.1) and C-6 (δ 116.2) of the trisubstituted double bond, and to C-8 (δ 71.3) and C-9 (δ 211.5) are consistent with this assignment. Additional HMBC correlations observed from H-17 to C-7, C-8 and C-9 confirmed this assignment (Figure 6).

Figure 6

Selected NMR correlations for briareolate ester K (2).

The relative configuration of briareolate ester K (2) was determined to be identical to that of 1 on the basis of NOE enhancements revealed in a series of 1D NOESY experiments (Figure 6). The configuration of the C-7/8 epoxide was determined from NOE enhancements observed between H-7 and H-2 together with NOE enhancements observed from H-6 to H-17 which placed H-7 on the inside of the 10-membered ring and indicated the trans orientation of the epoxide. This assignment is consistent with that of briareolate ester D (6) whose structure was assigned on the basis of X-ray crystallography [4].

Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for cell growth inhibitory activities against human embryonic stem cells (BG02) using a 96-well plate real-time cell electronic sensing (RT-CES) system [7]. Briareolate ester K (2) showed weak growth inhibition against BG02 cells with an EC50 value of 40 µM. No inhibitory activity was detected for briareolate ester J (1) at 40 µM. Previously the (E,Z)-dienone containing briareolate esters L (3) and M (4) were found to have growth inhibition against both the BG02 and a pancreatic cancer cell line (BxPC-3) cells with EC50 values of 2.4 and 9.3 µM, respectively for 3, and 8.0 µM against BG02 cells and only cytostatic effects at 13.0 and 17.0 µM against the BxPC-3 cells for 4 [5]. No growth inhibition was found for the briareolate esters B, C, G (7), and N (5). The absence of significant growth inhibition activity for the (Z,Z)-dieneone compound 1 and the epoxide containing compound 2 further confirms the importance of the (E,Z)-dieneone for biological activity.

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General Experimental Procedures

Optical rotations were measured on a Jasco P-2000 polarimeter (c: g/100 mL) at 589 nm. UV spectra were obtained on a Perkin-Elmer Lambda EZ 210 UV-vis spectrophotometer. IR spectra were recorded on a Thermo Electronic Corporation Nicolet IR-100 spectrophotometer. All NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian MercuryPlus 400 spectrometer. All chemical shifts (δ) were referenced internally to the residual solvent peak (CD3OD: 1H, δ 3.30; 13C, δ 49.0; CDCl3: 1H 7.26 ppm; 13C 77.0 ppm). Short- and long-range 1H–13C correlations were determined with gradient-enhanced inverse-detected HSQC and HMBC experiments respectively. NOE correlations were detected with NOESY or ROESY experiments with a 0.5 s mixing time. The high-resolution ESI mass spectra were obtained using an Agilent 6210 LC-TOF mass spectrometer at the Mass Spectrometer Facility at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. HPLC purifications were performed on Beckman System Gold HPLC system with a 168 UV detector and a SEDEX 85 (Sedere) evaporative light scattering detector. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) analyses were performed using Merck Kieselgel (Aufoilen) 60 F254 plates. TLC plates were visualized by spraying with 1:1 MeOH:H2SO4.

3.2. Animal Material

The gorgonian Briareum asbesinum was collected by hand using SCUBA at a depth of 45–50 ft from Hillsboro Ledge, Boca Raton Florida. The specimen was immediately frozen and kept at −20 °C until extraction. A voucher specimen has been deposited in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton Florida (FAU02-010).

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

The sample of Briareum asbestinum (500 g wet wt.), were extracted with MeOH (3 × 800 mL) for 24 h. The third, second and then the first extracts were passed through a column of HP-20 resin (2.5 × 25 cm) equilibrated with MeOH. The combined eluents was diluted with H2O (2.5 L) and passed again through the column. The column was eluted with 800 mL fractions of: (1) H2O, (2) 40% Me2CO/H2O, (3) 75% Me2CO/H2O and (4) Me2CO. Fraction 4 was concentrated to dryness and was subjected to column chromatography on HP-20SS resin eluting with increasing concentrations of MeCN in H2O (40%–100%). A late eluting fraction was further subjected to semi-preparative silica gel HPLC (Luna 5 µm; 10 × 250 mm; 4 mL/min; 5%–50% EtOAc/Hexane over 30 min) to give 1 (6.0 mg), 2 (10.0 mg), 4 (10.0 mg), 6 (10.0 mg) and 7 (5.0 mg).

Briareolate ester J (1): Colorless oil; [α]25D −19 (c 0.05, MeOH); UV (MeOH) λmax 225 nm (ε 2711), 287 (ε 1713); IR (MeOH) νmax 2956, 2867, 1737, 1641, 1454, 1371 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 613.3346 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C33H50O9Na, 613.3353).

Briareolate ester K (2): Colorless oil; [α]25D −8 (c 0.05, MeOH); IR (MeOH) νmax 2951, 2869, 1742, 1454, 1367 cm−1; 1H and 13C NMR data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 629.3291 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C33H50O10Na, 629.3302).

3.4. Cell Culture

BG02 hESCs were grown in defined medium, containing 10 ng/mL HRG1β (Peprotech), 10 ng/mL ActA (R&D Systems), 200 ng/mL LR3-IGF1 (JRH Biosciences), and 8 ng/mL FGF2 (Sigma or R&D Systems). Cultures were passaged with Accutase (Innovative Cell Technologies) and plated on tissue culture flasks coated with growth factor-reduced matrigel (BD Biosciences) diluted 1:200, as described by Robins and Schulz [8].

3.5. RT-CES Cytotoxicity Assays

The xCELLigence real-time impedance system (Roche) was used to monitor the effects of compounds on cells [7]. BG02 cells were plated at 1 × 104 cells/well in matrigel coated plates. The culture was placed in the reader station under standard humidified conditions and incubated at 37 °C with 5% CO2. The media was changed every 24 h and impedance was measured every 15 min for 3 days. Compounds were added to quadruplicate wells 24 h after plating. Vincristine was used as a positive control for cytotoxicity, and DMSO alone was used as a negative control. Cell index plots were normalized immediately prior to addition of compound, and EC50 values were generated using the xCELLigence analysis software RTCA ver 1.1 after 2 days of treatment.

4. Conclusions

Two new briarane diterpenoids briareolate esters J (1) and K (2), along with three known compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract of B. asbestinum collected off the coast of Boca Raton, Florida. The compounds were identified from screening semi-purified and pre-fractioned extract libraries against hESCs and briareolate ester K (2) containing a trans C-7/8 epoxide was found to exhibit weak growth inhibition activity against human embryonic stem cells (BG02). The lack of biological activity for briaranes 1 and 2 further confirmed the requirement of the α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ketone in conjunction with the double bond configuration for biological activity.