Chemical examination of a marine sponge Xestospongia sp. resulted in the isolation of 20 sterol derivatives (1 – 20), including eight new sterols namely aragusterols J – L (1 – 3), (5α,7α,12β,22E)-7,12,18-trihydroxystigmast-22-en-3-one (4), (5α,7α,12β,24R)- and (5α,7α,12β,24S)-7,12,20-trihydroxystigmastan-3-one (5/6), and (5α,7α,12β,22E,24R)- and (5α,7α,12β,22E,24S)-7,12,20-trihydroxyergost-22-en-3-one (7/8). The structures of new compounds were determined through extensive spectroscopic analyses and chemical conversion. The sterol diversity was mainly characterized by the presence of a cyclopropane unit at side chain, while compound 4 with 18-hydroxymethyl group was found in stigmasterol family for the first time. Cytotoxic test revealed the inhibitory effects of compounds 1, 4, and 17 against human leukemia cell line K562 with IC₅₀ values of 18.3, 24.1, and 34.3 μm, respectively.

Six new biscembranoids, namely, sarcophytolides G–L (1–6, resp.), together with six known analogs, were isolated from a marine soft coral Sarcophyton elegans. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) spectroscopic analysis together with the aid of MS, CD, and IR data. The unusual isobiscembranoid sarcophytolide G (1) was found for the first time in the genus Sarcophyton.

Chemical examination of a Chinese gorgonian Anthogorgia sp. resulted in the isolation of seven terpenoids, including two new compounds, an rearranged serrulatane-type diterpenoid anthogorgiene P (1) and a guaiazuene-based terpenoid anthogorgiene Q (2). Anthogorgiene P (1) contains an unprecedented cubebane nucleus which is rarely found from nature. The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods (IR, UV, MS, CD and NMR). Compound 7 showed potent antifouling activity against the larval settlement of Balanus amphitrite, while 1 and 4 possessed moderate inhibition.

Chemical examination of the fungus Aspergillus ustus isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Suberites domuncula yielded the five new ophiobolin-type sesterterpenoids 1–5 and the two new pyrrolidine alkaloids 6 and 7, together with the known compound aurantiamine and cerebroside D. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic-data analysis (1D- and 2D-NMR, MS, and UV) and comparison with literature data. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against murine lymphoma cell line L5178Y.

Chemical examination of the Chinese marine sponge Xestospongia testudinaria resulted in the isolation and characterization of twelve new brominated acetylenic acids, namely xestospongienols A–L (1a–1d, 2a–2d, and 3a–3d), together with the known analog 4. The structures of xestospongienols A–L were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR, IR, and MS analysis in association with the modified Mosher method. The structural patterns are characteristic of brominated unbranched C₁₆-alkyl chains containing polyene and acetylene moieties.

Chemical examination of a Chinese soft coral Lobophytum pauciflorum resulted in the isolation of seven new biscembranoids named lobophytones U–Z₁ (1–7, resp.), together with methyl sartortuoate (8) and nyalolide (9). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) spectroscopic analysis in association with MS and IR data. All compounds were tested against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) release in mouse peritoneal macrophage. Lobophytone Z (6) inhibited NO production with an IC₅₀ value of 2.6 μM. Lobophytone H (1) showed inhibitory activities against the bacteria S. aureus and S. pneumoniae.

Two new bromotyrosine alkaloids, purealidins T and U (1 and 2, resp.), along with five known bromotyrosines 3–7, were isolated from marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data (CD, IR, 1D- and 2D-NMR, and MS) analysis.

A chemical examination of the mangrove plant Avicennia marina (Forrsk.) Vierh resulted in the isolation and characterization of five new iridoids, marinoids A–E (1–5), along with 2′-cinnamoyl-mussaenosidic acid (6), 2′-O-(4″-methoxycinnamoyl) mussaenosidic acid (7), 2′-O-(4″-hydroxycinnamoyl) mussaenosidic acid (8), and 3(R)-hydroxy-5-phenyl-4(E)-pentenoic acid (9). The structures of 1–5 were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) in association with IR and MS data analysis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

An unprecedented new limonoid-based alkaloid, granatoine (1), and a new phragmalin, xylocarpin L (2), along with xyloccensin Y were isolated as minor components from the fruits of the Chinese mangrove plant Xylocarpus granatum. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR) analysis. A possible biogenetic pathway for granatoine was also depicted. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

From the roots of Stemona sessilifolia, three new stemona-type alkaloids, namely stemosessifoine (1), isooxymaistemonine (2), and isomaistemonine (3), along with eight known alkaloids (bisdehydrostemoninine, isobisdehydrostemoninine, tuberostemonine, bisdehydrotuberostemonine, bisdehydrostemoninine, isobisdehydrostemoninine, stemoninine, and protostemonine), were isolated. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive 2D-NMR spectroscopic-data analysis and by comparison with reported values in the literature. Compound 1 is a structurally unprecedented alkaloid, and it is depicted to be bioconverted from tuberostemonine as the precursor. Isooxymaistemonine (2) showed a positive effect on the human high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor gene CD36 and LIMP II analogous-1 (CLA-1) at the dosage of 10 μg/ml.