Anti-Inflammatory Lobane and Prenyleudesmane Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum varium.

New lobane-based diterpenoids lobovarols A-D (1-4) and a prenyleudesmane-type diterpenoid lobovarol E (5) along with seven known related diterpenoids (6-12) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Lobophytum varium. Their structures were identified on the basis of multiple spectroscopic analyses and spectral comparison. The absolute configuration at C-16 of the known compound 11 is reported herein for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activities of compounds 1-12 were assessed by measuring their inhibitory effect on N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB)-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. Metabolites 2, 5, and 11 were found to show moderate inhibitory activity on the generation of superoxide anion, while compounds 5, 8, 11, and 12 could effectively suppress elastase release in fMLP/CB-stimulated human neutrophil cells at 10 μM. All of the isolated diterpenoids did not exhibit cytotoxic activity (IC50 > 50 μM) towards a limited panel of cancer cell lines.

1. Introduction

Marine organisms have been well recognized as an important source of natural products with diverse chemical structures and wide array of bioactivities, including the anti-inflammatory activities [1,2,3]. Soft corals belonging to the genus Lobophytum (Alcyoniidae) are considered to be a rich source of diterpenoids [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16] and steroids [17,18,19,20,21,22], of which some exerted cytotoxic [4,5,6,7,8,18,21,23], antibacterial [4,8,10,11], antiviral [15], anti-acetylcholinesterase [9], and anti-inflammatory activities [6,8,10,15,16,19]. The terpenoid metabolites of cembrane-derived [4,5,6,7,8,9,15,16], including their dimers [8,10], lobane-derived diterpenoids [11,12,13,14], and to a lesser extent of prenyleudesmane-based diterpenoids [12,23,24], have been reported from soft corals belonging to the genus Lobophytum. Certain lobane diterpenoids exhibited an anti-inflammatory potential through different mechanisms such as reduction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression [25], inhibition of leukotriene synthesis [26], and suppression of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) [27]. Our continuing investigation on the chemical constituents of soft corals belonging to the genus Lobophytum has led to the discovery of steroids, glycolipids, and cembranoids from L. mirabile [21], L. crassum [6,16,28], and L. sarcophytoides [19]. This study was aimed to isolate new metabolites from a Taiwanese soft coral L. varium and led to the discovery of five new diterpenes and seven known related compounds. Neutrophils play a critical role in the host defenses against invasion by pathogens and in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Activation of neutrophils by diverse stimuli results in secretion of a series of cytotoxins, reactive oxygen species (e.g., superoxide anion), and granule proteases (e.g., elastase) [29]. Therefore, agents which can suppress the excessive activation of neutrophils have been proposed to ameliorate the related inflammatory diseases. In this context, the anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated metabolites from L. varium was evaluated in vitro through measuring their ability to inhibit fMLP/CB-stimulated superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. This assay has been previously used by our group to disclose a number of marine diterpenoids possessing anti-inflammatory potential [30,31]. Moreover, the cytotoxicity against the growth of a limited panel of cancer cell lines was evaluated using Alamar Blue assay.

2. Results and Discussion

The solvent-free EtOAc extract of L. varium was primarily fractionated over a silica gel column. Further separation using a series of normal phase (NP) and reversed phase (RP) silica yielded five new diterpenoids lobovarols A–E (1–5, Figure 1) and seven known lobane diterpenoids (6–12, Figure 2). The chemical identities of the known compounds (6–12) were determined by comparison of their infrared (IR), mass spectrum (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data with the published data and were found to be lobatriene (6) [32,33], lobatrienolide (7) [34], isofuscol (8) [24], fuscol (9) [35], 13,15-epoxyloba-8,10,16-trien-18-ol (10) [36], 17,18-epoxyloba-8,10,13(15)-trien-16-ol (11) [13,14], and (1R,2R,4S,17R)-loba-8,10,13(15)-trien-17,18-diol (12) [12], respectively.

Figure 1

New diterpenoids isolated from Lobophytum varium.

Figure 2

Known diterpenoids (6–12) isolated from Lobophytum varium, β-elemene, and β-silenene.

Lobovarol A (1) was isolated as a colorless oil, [α] −31.7. The high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS) (m/z 359.2191 [M + Na]+) and NMR data of 1 (Table 1 and Table 2) established the molecular formula of 1 as C20H32O4 with five degrees of unsaturation. The broad IR absorption band at νmax 3417 cm−1 was ascribed to hydroxy functionality. The 13C NMR spectral data, measured in CDCl3 (Table 2) displayed twenty carbon signals, including those of four methyls, of a diterpenoid. The 13C and 1H NMR spectra of 1 revealed the presence of two olefins: a vinyl (δC 149.6, CH and 110.2, CH2; δH 5.78, dd, J = 17.6, 10.4 Hz, 4.90 d, J = 17.6 Hz, and 4.90, br d, J =10.4 Hz) and an isopropenyl (δC 147.1, C, 112.5, CH2 and 24.9, CH3; δH 4.84 and 4.60, each 1H, br s; and 1.70, 3H, s). Furthermore, a ring-junctured methyl (δC 16.5, CH3; δH 0.99, 3H, s) and a methine (δC 52.1, CH; δH 1.94, br dd, J = 9.2, 6.0 Hz) groups exhibited heteronuclear multiple bond correlations (HMBC) to each other and designated a β-elemene (13) ring system [12,13,37] in the molecule. These NMR signals are also characteristic for the lobane-type diterpenoids [11,12,13,14,25]. The presence of a trisubstituted epoxide (δC 64.2, C, and 59.1, CH; δH 3.49, dd, J = 2.0, 2.0 Hz), a dimethyl hydroxymethine (δC 71.1, C, 26.5, CH3, and 24.0, CH3; δH 1.22 and 1.13, each 3H s), an oxymethine (δC 68.3, CH; δH 3.45, dd, J = 11.2, 3.0 Hz) and a dioxy-methine (δC 89.5, CH; δH 5.30, s) were also confirmed in the side chain of the six-membered ring. Thus, an oxygen atom should form an ether-linkage at C-14 (δC 89.5, CH) and C-17 (δC 68.3, CH), which was confirmed by the HMBC correlations from H-14 (δH 5.30, s) to C-17. Comparison of 13C NMR spectral data of 1 with those of lobatrienolide (7) isolated from Sinularia flexibilis [34] and in this study, revealed the same carbon skeleton for both compounds. However, the carbonyl at C-14 (δC 164.7, C) and the trisubstituted double bond (δC 136.7, C, C-13 and 137.1, CH, C-15) of 7 have been reduced to a hemiketal methine group (δC 89.5, CH, C-14) and epoxidized (δC 64.2, C, C-13 and 59.1, CH, C-15) in 1, respectively. Analysis of correlation spectroscopy (COSY) correlations of 1 established three consecutive proton spin systems extending from H-2 to H2-6, H-8 to H2-9, and H-15 to H-17 (Figure 3), which were connected by the key HMBC correlations observed from the angular methyl protons H3-7 (δH 0.99, 3H, s) to C-2, C-6, and C-8, and from the olefinic methyl protons H3-12 (δH 1.70, 3H, s) to C-2, and confirmed the β-elemene ring system. Moreover, HMBC correlations found from the hemiketal methine proton H-14 (δH 5.30, s) to C-4, C-13, and C-17, from each of H3-19 and H3-20 (δH 1.13 and 1.22, each 3H, s) to the oxymethine carbon C-17 confirmed the ether linkage of the 2-hydroxypyran ring and the epoxide ring to be at C-14/C-17 and C-13/C-15, respectively. Thus, the planar structures of 1 was established as shown in Figure 3.

Table 1

1H NMR spectral data for compounds 1–5.

#	1 a	2 b	3 a	4 a	5 b
1	-	-	-	-	1.46 m; 1.28 m
2	1.94 br dd (9.2, 6.0) c	1.95 dd (6.0, 6.0, 3.0)	2.02 dd (12.4, 4.0)	2.00 m	1.62, 2H, m
3	1.56, 2H, m	1.59 m; 1.49 m	1.61 m; 1.54 m	1.54, 2H, m	2.31 d (13.0); 2.01 m
4	1.56 m	1.56 m	2.00 m	1.89 m
5	1.64 m; 1.36 m	1.63 m; 1.33 m	1.64 m; 1.49 m	1.61 m; 1.41 m	1.83 d (12.0)
6	1.38–1.50, 2H, m	1.46, 2H, m	1.48, 2H, m	1.46, 2H, m	1.54 m; 1.34 m
7	0.99, 3H, s	0.98 3H, s	1.00, 3H, s	1.00, 3H, s	1.97 m
8	5.78 dd (17.6, 10.4)	5.79 dd (18.0, 10.5)	5.82 dd (17.6, 10.4)	5.82 dd (18.0, 10.8)	1.53 m, 1.28 m
9	4.90 d (17.6); 4.90 d (10.4)	4.90 d (16); 4.89 d (13.5)	4.92 d (17.6); 4.91 d (10.4)	4.92 d (16.4); 4.90 d (11.6)	1.52, m; 1.28 m
11	4.84 br s; 4.60 br s	4.83 s; 4.58 s	4.82 dd (1.6, 1.6); 4.58 br d (1.6)	4.82 s; 4.59 s	-
12	1.70 3H, s	1.70 3H, s	1.71 3H, s	1.71, 3H, s	5.33 d (8.5)
13					4.25 dd (8.5, 8.0)
14	5.30 s	4.91 s	4.88 s	4.82 s; 4.74 s	2.82 d (8.0)
15	3.49 dd (2.0, 2.0)	3.30 br s	5.73 br d (6.0)	2.03, 2H, m	-
16	2.04 ddd (14.8, 2.4, 2.4); 1.82 ddd (14.8, 11.2, 2.0)	2.05 ddd (14.0, 2.5, 2.5); 1.84 ddd (14.0, 12.0, 2.5)	2.22 m; 1.99 m	1.75, 2H, m	4.72 s; 4.43 s
17	3.45 dd (11.2, 3.0)	3.58 dd (12, 2.5)	3.67 dd (11.6, 3.6)	4.84 dd (10.4, 2.8)	0.73, 3H, s
18	-	-	-	-	1.72, 3H, s
19	1.13, 3H, s	1.14, 3H, s	1.18, 3H, s	1.21, 3H, s	1.33, 3H, s
20	1.22, 3H, s	1.25, 3H, s	1.29, 3H, s	1.22, 3H, s	1.32, 3H, s
OMe	-	3.47, 3H, s	3.46 3H, s	-	-
OAc	-	-	-	2.13, 3H, s	-

Spectra recorded in CDCl3 at a 400 and b 500 MHz at 25 °C. c J values (Hz) in parentheses.

Table 2

13C NMR data of compounds 1–5.

#	1 a	2 b	3 a	4 a	5 b
1	39.7 (C)	39.7 (C)	39.7 (C)	39.8 (C)	41.9 (CH2)
2	52.1 (CH) c	52.0 (CH)	52.8 (CH)	52.8 (CH)	23.4 (CH2)
3	28.7 (CH2)	28.9 (CH2)	34.1 (CH2)	33.3 (CH2)	36.9 (CH2)
4	41.9 (CH)	41.8 (CH)	40.5 (CH)	44.4 (CH)	150.9 (C)
5	22.8 (CH2)	22.9 (CH2)	26.4 (CH2)	27.2 (CH2)	49.9(CH)
6	39.1 (CH2)	39.2 (CH2)	39.8 (CH2)	40.0 (CH2)	29.2 (CH2)
7	16.5 (CH3)	16.5 (CH3)	16.6 (CH3)	16.6 (CH3)	47.6 (CH)
8	149.6 (CH)	149.8 (CH)	150.2 (CH)	150.2 (CH)	26.6 (CH2)
9	110.2 (CH2)	110.1 (CH2)	109.9 (CH2)	109.9 (CH2)	41.0 (CH2)
10	147.1 (C)	147.2 (C)	147.5 (C)	147.6 (C)	36.0 (C)
11	112.5 (CH2)	112.4 (CH2)	112.2 (CH2)	112.1 (CH2)	146.1 (C)
12	24.9 (CH3)	24.7 (CH3)	24.7 (CH3)	24.8 (CH3)	120.8 (CH)
13	64.2 (C)	61.7 (C)	140.6 (C)	153.6 (C)	67.9 (CH)
14	89.5 (CH)	97.7 (CH)	97.8 (CH)	107.5 (CH2)	67.5 (CH)
15	59.1 (CH)	55.3 (CH)	121.1 (CH)	31.4 (CH2)	59.8 (C)
16	24.8 (CH2)	25.2 (CH2)	24.8 (CH2)	28.1 (CH2)	105.4 (CH2)
17	68.3 (CH)	69.5 (CH)	72.1 (CH)	79.7 (CH)	16.4 (CH)
18	71.1 (C)	71.4 (C)	71.5 (C)	72.5 (C)	15.5 (CH3)
19	24.0 (CH3)	24.5 (CH3)	24.4 (CH3)	24.9 (CH3)	24.9 (CH3)
20	26.5 (CH3)	27.0 (CH3)	26.7 (CH3)	26.8 (CH3)	19.6 (CH3)
14-OMe		55.6 (CH3)	55.4 (CH3)
17-OAc				21.1 (CH3)
				171.3 (C)

Spectra recorded in CDCl3 at a 100 and b 125 MHz at 25 °C. c Attached protons were determined by DEPT experiments. Values are presented as ppm downfield from TMS.

Figure 3

Key COSY and HMBC correlations of 1–5.

The relative configuration at the seven chiral centers of 1 was determined by the analysis of nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) correlations along with molecular modeling using MM2 force field calculations (Figure 4). The nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) spectrum of compound 1 was remeasured in C6D6 for better resolution since the proton signals of H2-3 and H-4 in CDCl3 were overlapped (3H, 1.56, m). In C6D6, NOE interactions were observed for H-4 (δH 1.25, m) with H-2 (δH 1.75, m), H3-7 (δH 0.92, 3H, s) with H-6α (δH 1.22, m), H-6β (δH 1.33, m) with H-2. Furthermore, the similar δC values of C-1, C-2, C-7, and C-8 to C-12 of the previously-reported β-elemene and lobane-type diterpenoids [12,32,33,34], isolated from the same genus Lobophytum or prepared by enantiocontrolled synthesis [37], suggested the 1R,2R,4S-configuration in compound 1. Moreover, the R configuration established for C-16 in the related lobane diterpenoids 11 (latter discussed) also implied the absolute configuration of chiral centers of the prenyleudesmane 5 and hence the lobanes 1–4. The NOE correlations observed for both H-3α (δH 1.50, m) and H-5α (δH 1.22, m) with H-14 (δH 5.22, s), and for H-4 with H-15 (δH 3.03, dd, J = 2.0, 1.6 Hz) indicated that the protons at C-14 and C-15 of the pyran ring should be syn to each other and were assigned arbitrarily as α-oriented. In turn, H-15 exhibited NOE interactions with both H2-16 protons (δH 1.58, ddd, J = 13.2, 11.2, 2.0 Hz, H-16α and 1.73, m, H-16β) while H-17, which has an axial-axial coupling with H-16α (J = 11.2 Hz), displayed a significant NOE correlation with H-16β. Therefore, H-17 should be β-configured. This was also suggested by the absence of NOE response of H-17 with H-14. The above-mentioned NOEs found for H-14 with H-3α and H-5α, and for H-15 with H-4 revealed that the pyran ring should be perpendicular to the β-elemene ring system. To further prove the β-position of the epoxide ring, a conformation analysis using Chem3D, molecular mechanics calculations (MM2) and dihedral driving calculation were carried out [38,39]. The most stable (the lowest-energy) conformations for compound 1 and its 13,15-epimer 1a which possesses an α-epoxide are represented in Figure 4 and Figure 5, respectively. In this perspective, we focused on the calculated distances between the diagnostic proton pairs having key NOE correlations in conformer 1, which were found shorter than 3.0 Å, in comparison with those calculated for 1a (Table 3). The results demonstrated that the β-configuration of the epoxide ring could only fulfill all described NOE correlations mentioned above. On the basis of the above findings, the (1R, 2R, 4S, 13R, 14R, 15S, 17R)-configuration of 1 was, thus, established.

Figure 4

Key NOE correlations of 1–3 and 5.

Figure 5

Molecular model of 1a.

Table 3

Calculated conformational energies as a function of the dihedral angle of C(3)-C(4)-C(13)-O and the distances between the diagnostic protons of 1 and 1a.

Compound	1 (β-Epoxide)	1a (α-Epoxide)
Dihedral angle of C(3)-C(4)-C(13)-O	−80°	−150°
Minimum energy conformer (Kcal/mol)	75.78	80.92
Calculated distances
H(4)-H(15)	2.45 Å	2.45 Å
H(14)-H(3α)	2.54 Å	3.73 Å
H(14)-H(5α)	2.30 Å	2.51 Å
H(14)-H(5β)	3.35 Å	2.79 Å

Lobovarol B (2) was also isolated as a colorless oil with a hydroxy group (IR νmax 3445 cm−1). The NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) showed the characteristic signals of lobane-type diterpenoids as in 1. Its HRESIMS m/z 373.2350 [M + Na]+ and NMR data deduced a molecular formula C21H34O4 with a 14 mass unit difference from compound 1. Comparison of NMR data of compounds 2 and 1 revealed that compound 2 is the methyl ether of 1 due to the appearance of the methoxy signals (δC 55.6, CH3; δH 3.47, 3H, s). The HMBC correlation observed from the methoxy protons to the dioxymethine carbon (δC 97.7, CH, C-14) designated the C-14 position of the methoxyl. Therefore, compound 2 was identified as the methyl acetal arising from methylation of 14-OH of 1. The structure of 2 was further confirmed by the analysis of COSY and HMBC correlations (Figure 3). Moreover, compound 2 displayed analogous NOE correlations and possessed the same sign of optical rotation ([α] −34.7) as those of 1, implying the same absolute configuration for both 1 and 2.

Lobovarol C (3) was obtained as a colorless oil. Its sodium adduct ion peak [M + Na]+ at m/z 357.2400 in the HRESIMS revealed a molecular formula of C21H34O3 which has one oxygen atom less than that of 2. The IR absorption band at νmax of 3450 cm−1 again indicated the presence of a hydroxy functionality in the molecule. Again, careful inspection of the 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data (Table 1 and Table 2) of 3 showed resonances and coupling constants identical to those of the β-elemene ring system, as verified in compounds 1 and 2 and other known lobane-type diterpenoids. Comparison of the 21 carbon signals of 3 with those of 2 showed that the trisubstituted epoxy signals in 2 was replaced by those of a trisubstituted double bond (δC/δH 140.6, C; 121.1, CH/5.73, br d, J = 6.0 Hz) in 3. The planar structure of 3 was further established by analyzing its COSY and HMBC correlations (Figure 3). Compound 3 exhibited NOE interactions consistent with 1R, 2R, and 4S configurations of the β-elemene ring system as in 1 and 2. Additionally, the oxymethine proton H-17 (δH 3.67 dd, J = 11.6, 3.6 Hz) was found to NOE interact with one of the isopropyl group at C-18 (δH 1.29, 3H, s, H3-20) which, in turn, showed NOE correlation with the C-14 methoxyl protons. Thus, H-17 and H-14 are anti to each other, as found in compounds 1 and 2 (Figure 4). Compound 3 was, thus, identified as (1R,2R,4S,14R,17R,13Z)-14,17-epoxy-14-methoxyloba-8,10,13(15)-trien-18-ol.

The new metabolite lobovarol D (4) was found to have a molecular formula C22H36O3 as deduced from its HRESIMS (m/z 371.2557 [M + H]+) and NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2), implying five degrees of unsaturation. The IR absorptions at 3450 and 1735 cm−1 further indicated the presence of both hydroxy and ester functionalities. The NMR data revealed that compound 4 is another lobane diterpenoid possessing a β-elemene ring system and a side chain with an acetoxy, an exomethylene, and a tertiary hydroxyl. Analysis of the COSY spectrum of 4 revealed three consecutive protons systems (H-8/H2-9, H-2 to H2-6, and H2-15 to H-17). The connectivities of these three partial structures, as well as the location of the acetoxy, exomethylene, and the tertiary hydroxy groups, were established by inspection of the and correlations found in the HMBC spectra (Figure 3). The and correlations observed from the tertiary H3-19 (δH 1.21, 3H, s) and H3-20 (δH 1.22, 3H, s) to the sp non-protonated oxycarbon (δC 72.5, C, C-18) and the oxymethine carbon (δC 79.7, CH, C-17) positioned the hydroxy and acetoxy groups at C-18 and C-17, respectively. Further, the HMBC correlations found from the olefinic protons (δH 4.82, and 4.74, each 1H, s) to C-4 (δC 44.4, CH), C-13 (δC 153.6, C), and C-15 (δC 31.4, CH2) indicated the C-13 location of the exomethylene group. These results established the gross structure of 4 (Figure 3). Analysis of NOE correlations again determined the 1R,2R,4S configuration of 4. However, the C-17 configuration remains unresolved, although according to the related biosynthetic pathway, 4 might possess the same 17R configuration as those of 1–3.

Lobovarol E (5) was obtained as a white powder. The molecular formula was deduced to be C20H32O2 as indicated by the HRESIMS (m/z 327.2292 [M + Na]+) and NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2), implying five degrees of unsaturation. Its IR absorption band at 3422 cm−1 revealed the presence of a hydroxy functionality, which was further supported by the NMR signals at δC 67.9 and δH 4.25. The NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) showed the presence of one 1,1-disubstitued (δC 150.9, C and 105.4 CH2; δH 4.72 and 4.43, each 1H, s) and a trisubstituted (δC 146.1, C and 120.8, CH; δH 5.33, 1H, d, J = 8.5 Hz) olefinic bonds, a trisubstituted epoxide (δC 59.8, C; 67.5, CH; δH 2.82, 1H, d, J = 8.0 Hz), and a hydroxyl-bearing methine (δC 67.9, CH; δH 4.25, 1H, dd, J = 8.5, 8.0 Hz). One olfeinic methyl (δH 1.72, 3H, s), and three tertiary methyls (δH 1.33, 1.32, and 0.73, each 3H, s), were also identified. Therefore, the compound was suggested to have a bicyclic structure to fulfill the five degrees of unsaturation. The bicyclic structure of 5 was found to be the same as that of one eudesmene from the nearly the same NMR data of positions 1 to 10, 16, and 17 of 5 with the corresponding sesquiterpene (14) [40]. From the COSY correlations of 5 (Figure 3), three partial structures consecutive proton systems extended from H2-1 to H2-3, H-5 to H2-9, and H-12 to H-14 were established. Analysis of HMBC correlations of 5 led to the establishment of its planar structure. It was also found that the key HMBC correlations observed from both H3-19 and H3-20 to the epoxide carbons C-14 (δC 67.5, CH) and C-15 (δC 59.8, C) and from the hydroxymethine H-13 (δH 4.25, dd, J = 8.5, 8.0 Hz) to C-11 (δC 146.1, C) and C-14 demonstrated the positions of the epoxide and the hydroxyl to be at C-14/C-15 and C-13, respectively. This was further proved by the matched chemical shifts of 1H and 13C atoms of the side chain of 5 with the correspondent atoms of the known compound 17,18-epoxyloba-8,10,13(15)-trien-16-ol (11) [13] which was also isolated in this study. Therefore, the prenyleudesmane molecular structure of 5 was established as illustrated in Figure 3.

The relative configuration of 5 was determined by analyzing the NOE correlations in the NOESY spectrum, as well as a lowest energy stable conformation generated using MM2 calculation (Figure 4). The NOE interactions of H-5 with H-7, but not with H3-17, reflected the 5R*, 7S*, 10S*-configuration. The NOE correlations displayed for the β-oriented H-7 with the olefinic proton H-12, but not with H3-18, disclosed the E geometry of the 11,12-double bond. The α-orientation of the hydroxyl at C-13 was suggested by the NOE correlations of H-12/H-13 and H-12/H-7, as shown in a molecular model in Figure 4. The NOE correlations of H-12/H-7 and H3-18/H-13 proved the E-geometry of C-11/C-12 double bond. The above finding and other detailed NOE correlations (Figure 4) established the relative stereochemistry of 5. The relative configuration at chiral carbons C-13 was further suggested by that correspondent to C-16 of the known biogenetically related metabolite 11 which has been also isolated from the same organism in this study. Fortunately, the larger quantity of compound 11 enabled us to determine the absolute configuration of 11 and hence that of 5, through the esterification of 16-hydroxy group in 11 by Mosher’s method [41,42]. Analysis of the calculated ΔδH (δS − δR) values of protons neighboring C-16 of the prepared (S)- and (R)-2-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2-phenylacetic (MTPA) esters (11a and 11b, Figure 6) led to the assignment of the R configuration at C-16 in 11 and consequently the correspondent 13R configuration in 5. On the basis of the above findings, the absolute configuration of 5 was established as 5R, 7S, 10S, 13R. However, the stereochemistry at C-14 remained undetermined in spite of the NOE correlation of H-14/H-12.

Figure 6

1H NMR chemical shift differences Δδ (δS − δR) in ppm for the MTPA esters of 11.

The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds (1–12) were screened against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human prostatic carcinoma (LN-cap), and human colon adenocarcinoma (DLD-1) cell lines using the Alamar Blue assay. The results showed that these compounds are not cytotoxic toward the three cancer cell lines.

Since many lobane diterpenoids were reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity through different mechanisms [25,26,27], the isolated metabolites in this study were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory potential through measuring their ability to suppress fMLP/CB-induced superoxide anion generation and elastase release in human neutrophils. The results (Figure 7) demonstrated that compounds 2, 5, and 11 expressed a moderate inhibitory effect (22.08 ± 4.71, 20.59 ± 2.15, and 28.16 ± 5.06%, respectively) at 10 μM against superoxide anion generation in fMLP/CB-stimulated cells. Moreover, compounds 5, 8, 11, and 12 were found to be more active in inhibiting the elastase release (33.94 ± 5.85 to 45.34 ± 4.08%) than compounds 2, 4, 9, and 10 which exhibited a moderate activity (23.07 ± 6.55 to 28.44 ± 5.28%) at 10 μM. The weak inhibition against elastase release was exerted by compounds 3, 6, and 7 (11.40 ± 1.28 to 15.14 ± 2.52%). It is noteworthy to mention that although compounds 5 and 11 possessed the same side chain, it seems that the ring system of β-elemene in 11 has a role in increasing the anti-inflammatory effect relative to β-selinene moiety. Moreover, except for compound 2, other lobane diterpenoids possessing a pyran ring in their side chain (1, 3, 6, and 7) showed weaker activity against elastase release in the fMLP/CB-stimulated neutrophils.

Figure 7

Inhibitory effects (% Inh) of compounds 1–12 at 10 μM on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils in response to N-formyl-l-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (FMLP/CB). Results are presented as the mean ± S.E.M (n = 3–4).

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Procedures

Optical rotations were measured on a JASCO P-1020 polarimeter (Jasco Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). IR spectra were recorded on a JASCO FT/IR-4100 spectrophotometer (Jasco). ESIMS and HRESIMS data were performed on a BRUKER APEX II mass (Bruker, Bremen, Germany) spectrometers. The NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Unity INOVA 500 FT-NMR (Varian Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) at 500 MHz for 1H and 125 MHz for 13C or on a Varian 400 FT-NMR (Varian Inc.) at 400 MHz for 1H and 100 MHz for 13C in CDCl3 or C6D6 using TMS as internal standard (δ in ppm, J in Hz). Silica gel 60 (230–400 mesh, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) pre-coated silica gel plates (Merck, Kieselgel 60 F254, 0.2 mm) were used for open CC and analytical TLC analysis, respectively. Isolation by HPLC was performed by a Hitachi L-2455 instrument (Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) equipped with a reversed-phase (RP-18) column (ODS-3, 5 µm, 250 × 20 mm, Sciences Inc., Tokyo, Japan).

3.2. Animal Material

The soft coral Lobophytum varium Tixier-Durivault was collected by hand via SCUBA at a depth of 10–15 m from Jihui Fish Port, Taitung, Taiwan (23°7′2′′ N, 121°23′49.2′′ E), in March 2013, and stored at −20 °C until extraction. The organism was identified by Professor Chang-Feng Dai, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.

3.3. Extraction and Separation

The frozen bodies of L. varium (1.3 kg, wet weight) were sliced and exhaustively extracted with EtOAc. The solvent-free extract (55.4 g) was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, using EtOAc in n-hexane (0.0 to 100%) then acetone in EtOAc (0.0 to 100%) as eluting solvents, to yield 24 fractions (F1 to F24). F8 eluted with 4.8% EtOAc in n-hexane was further purified in a silica gel column using EtOAc–n-hexane (1:10) to give two major subfractions F81 and F82. The subfractions were separately purified by NP-HPLC silica gel using 20% EtOAc in n-hexane and RP-HPLC silica gel using CH3CN-H2O (3:2) to yield 10 (1.8 mg) and 1 (2.8 mg), respectively. F9, eluted with 6.5% EtOAc in n-hexane, was initially purified in a silica gel column, using EtOAc–n-hexane (1:6), and then was isolated by RP-HPLC using MeOH to yield 8 (0.9 mg). F11, eluted with 9% EtOAc in n-hexane, was further fractionated successively in Sephadex LH-20 and RP-silica gel columns using MeOH and MeOH-H2O (3:1), respectively, to afford three subfractions, F111 to F113. The fractions were purified separately by RP-HPLC using MeOH-H2O (3:1, 4:1, and 5:1) to give 7 (1.8 mg), 2 (1.1 mg), and 6 (1.5 mg), respectively. F12, eluted with 11.5% EtOAc in n-hexane, was primarily purified by silica gel chromatography using EtOAc–n-hexane (1:10) and then separated by RP-HPLC using MeOH-H2O (8:1) to yield 3 (3.5 mg) and 9 (3.0 mg). Moreover, F15, eluted with 20% EtOAc in n-hexane, was re-chromatographed in a silica gel column using EtOAc–n-hexane (1:5), and then by RP-HPLC using MeOH-H2O (5:1) to afford 4 (2.8 mg). F18, eluted with 50% EtOAc in n-hexane, was initially refined in a silica gel column using EtOAc–n-hexane (1:5,) then further isolated on RP-HPLC using MeOH-H2O (5:1) to yield 11 (11 mg), 12 (6.1 mg), and 5 (2.6 mg).

3.3.1. Lobovarol A (1)

Colorless oil; [α] −31.7 (c 0.70, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3417, 3081, 2925, 2856, 1639, 1561, 1377, 1033 cm−1; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) and 13C (100 MHz, CDCl3) data, see Table 1 and Table 2, respectively; 13C (100 MHz, C6D6) δC 150.0 (CH, C-8), 147.2 (C, C-10), 112.8 (CH2, C-11), 110.3 (CH2, C-9), 89.9 (CH, C-14), 70.8 (C, C-18), 68.4 (CH, C-17), 64.2 (C, C-13), 58.8 (CH, C-15), 52.1 (CH, C-2), 41.9 (CH, C-4), 39.9 (C, C-1), 39.3 (CH2, C-6), 28.9 (CH2, C-3), 26.5 (CH3, C-20), 25.1 (CH2, C-16), 25.0 (CH3, C-12), 24.6 (CH3, C-19), 23.0 (CH2, C-5), 16.6 (CH3, C-7); 1H NMR (400 MHz, C6D6) δH 5.73 (1H, dd, J = 17.2, 10.8 Hz, H-8), 5.22 (1H, s, H-14), 4.92 (1H, d, J = 17.2 Hz, H-9β), 4.90 (1H, d, J = 10.8 Hz, H-9α), 4.89 (1H, s, H-11β), 4.66 (1H, s, H-11α), 3.37 (1H, dd, J = 11.2, 3.2 Hz, H-17), 3.03 (1H, dd, J = 2.0, 1.6 Hz, H-15), 1.75 (1H, m, H-2), 1.73 (1H, m, H-16β), 1.68 (3H, s, H3-12), 1.58 (1H, ddd, J = 13.2, 11.2, 2.0 Hz, H-16α), 1.53 (1H, m, H-3β), 1.50 (1H, m, H-3α), 1.48 (1H, m, H-5β), 1.33 (1H, m, H-6β), 1.25 (1H, m, H-4), 1.22 (2H, m, H-5α and H-6α), 1.19 (3H, s, H3-20), 1.05 (3H, s, H3-19), 0.92 (3H, s, H3-7); ESIMS m/z 359 [M + Na]+ and 375 [M + K]+; HRESIMS m/z 359.2191 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C20H32O4Na, 359.2193).

3.3.2. Lobovarol B (2)

Colorless oil; [α] −34.7 (c 0.28, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3445, 3079, 2925, 2857, 1641, 1539, 1374, 1048 cm−1; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) and 13C (125 MHz, CDCl3) data, see Table 1 and Table 2, respectively; ESIMS m/z 373 [M + Na]+ and 389 [M + K]+; HRESIMS m/z 373.2350 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C21H34O4Na, 373.2349).

3.3.3. Lobovarol C (3)

Colorless oil; [α] −19.6 (c 0.88, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3450, 3080, 2927, 2865, 1639, 1459, 1374, 1045 cm−1; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) and 13C (100 MHz, CDCl3) data, see Table 1 and Table 2, respectively; ESIMS m/z 357 [M + Na]+ and 373 [M + K]+; HRESIMS m/z 357.2400 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C21H34O4Na, 357.2400).

3.3.4. Lobovarol D (4)

Colorless oil; [α] +12.3 (c 0.70, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3450, 3080, 2924, 2857, 1735, 1641, 1458, 1459, 1373, 1242, 1041 cm−1; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) and 13C (100 MHz, CDCl3) data, see Table 1 and Table 2, respectively; ESIMS m/z 371 [M + Na]+; HRESIMS m/z 371.2557 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C21H34O4Na, 371.2557).

3.3.5. Lobovarol E (5)

White amorphous powder; [α] −12.7 (c 0.65, CHCl3); IR (neat) νmax 3422, 3080, 2927, 2864, 1648, 1453, 1380, 1245, 1057 cm−1; 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) and 13C (125 MHz, CDCl3) data, see Table 1 and Table 2, respectively; ESIMS m/z 327 [M + Na]+; HRESIMS m/z 327.2292 [M + Na]+ (calcd. for C21H34O4Na, 327.2295).

3.3.6. Preparation of (S)- and (R)-MTPA Esters of 11

To a solution of 11a (2.0 mg) in pyridine (100 μL), R-(−)-MTPA chloride (5 μL) was added and allowed to react overnight at RT. The reaction was terminated by the addition of 1.0 mL of water, and then processed as previously described [43] to yield the (S)-MTPA ester 11a (0.4 mg, 19%). Similarly, the correspondent (R)-MTPA ester 11 was also obtained from the reaction of S-(+)-MTPA chloride with 11 to give 11b (0.2, 11%). 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) of 11a: δH 5.819 (1H, dd, J = 18.0, 10.8 Hz, H-8), 5.631 (1H, dd, J = 10.0, 8.4 Hz, H-16), 5.3665 (1H, d, J = 10 Hz, H-15), 4.9225 (1H, dd, J = 18.0, 1.2 Hz, H-9b), 4.920 (1H, dd, J = 10.8, 1.2 Hz, H-9a), 4.849 (1H, dd, J = 2.0, 2.0 Hz, H-11b), 4.593 (1H, s, H-11a), 3.0005 (1H, dd, J = 8.4, 3.2 Hz, H-17), 2.0195 (1H, m, H-4), 1.8325 (3H, d, J = 1.2 Hz, H3-14), 1.7205 (3H, d, J = 0.4 Hz, H3-12), 1.343 (3H, s, H3-20), 1.328 (3H, s, H3-19), 1.020 (3H, s, H3-7); 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) of 11b: δH 5.813 (1H, dd, J = 18.0, 10.8 Hz, H-8), 5.597 (1H, dd, J = 10.0, 8.4 Hz, H-16), 5.1585 (1H, d, J = 10 Hz, H-15), 4.9165 (1H, dd, J = 18.0, 1.2 Hz, H-9b), 4.914 (1H, br d, J = 12.0 Hz, H-9a), 4.852 (1H, br s, H-11b), 4.586 (1H, s, H-11a), 2.9975 (1H, br d, J = 8.4 Hz, H-17), 2.0004 (1H, m, H-4), 1.8585 (3H, d, J = 1.2 Hz, H3-14), 1.718 (3H, s, H3-12), 1.363 (3H, s, H3-20), 1.335 (3H, s, H3-19), 1.003 (3H, s, H3-7).

3.4. Cytotoxicity Assay

Cancer cell (A549, LN-cap, and DLD-1) lines were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Alamar Blue assay [44,45] protocol was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity for the isolated metabolites from L. varium.

3.5. In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Assay

Human neutrophils were obtained from whole blood using dextran sedimentation and Ficoll centrifugation. Purified neutrophils were resuspended in a Ca2+-free HBSS buffer (pH 7.4) at 4 °C prior to use.

3.5.1. Measurement of Superoxide Anion Generation

The production of superoxide anion was assayed by the method based on the superoxide oxide dismutase inhibitable reduction of ferricytochrome c [46,47]. Briefly, neutrophils incubated with ferricytochrome c (0.5 mg/mL) and Ca2+ (1 mM) were equilibrated at 37 °C for 2 min and then treated with different concentrations of the tested compounds for 5 min. Cells were activated by 100 nM fMLP for 10 min in the pretreatment of cytochalasin B (CB, 1 μg/mL) for 3 min (fMLP/CB).

3.5.2. Measurement of Elastase Release

The elastase release was assayed using MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-p-nitroanilide as substrate [46]. Briefly, neutrophils incubated with MeO-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-p-nitroanilide (100 μM) were equilibrated at 37 °C and then treated with the tested compounds for 5 min. Cells were then activated with fMLP (100 nM)/CB (0.5 μg/mL) for 10 min.

4. Conclusions

The ethyl acetate extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Lobophytum varium was chemically investigated for the first time and led to the discovery of four new lobane-based (1–4), and one new prenyleudesmane-type (5), diterpenoids, along with seven known related metabolites (6–12). The establishment of the absolute configuration of 11 was achieved by Mosher’s esterification. The evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity showed that diterpenoids 2, 5, and 11 possess moderate inhibitory activity on the generation of superoxide anion, while 5, 8, 11, and 12 could effectively suppress elastase released after stimulation of human neutrophils by fMLP/CB. The active metabolites might be considered as promising leads in the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.