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17 pages, 11042 KB

Open AccessArticle

Novel PPAR-γ Agonist from the Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule: Modulating Glucose Uptake and Lipid Droplet Formation

by Jian-Ang Zeng, Min Sun, Yi Qi, Song-Wei Li, Li-Ting Zhang, Si-Min Pan, Yue-Wei Guo, Ming-Zhi Su and Hui Luo

Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(12), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23120450 - 24 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1184

Abstract

Two previously undescribed highly oxygenated cembrane-type diterpenes, namely sarcocraol A (1) and sarcocraol B (2), along with five known compounds (3–7), have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule collected off Ximao Island in [...] Read more.

Two previously undescribed highly oxygenated cembrane-type diterpenes, namely sarcocraol A (1) and sarcocraol B (2), along with five known compounds (3–7), have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule collected off Ximao Island in the South China Sea. Their structures were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, QM-NMR calculations, TDDFT-ECD computation, X-ray diffraction analysis, and by comparison with literature data. Plausible biosynthetic pathways for these compounds were also proposed. All compounds were evaluated for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) transcriptional activity using luciferase assay. The bioassay results demonstrated that compound 1 exhibits selective PPAR-γ agonistic activity. Furthermore, it promoted glucose uptake in HepG2 cells by 1.18-, 1.45-, and 1.90-fold at concentrations of 2.5, 5, and 10 μM, respectively, whereas rosiglitazone (10 μM) produced a 2.47-fold increase over the induced control. Compound 1 at 10 μM induced mild lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, showing a 1.63-fold increase relative to the control, which was much lower than the 3.28-fold increase observed in rosiglitazone (10 μM) group indicating its potential antidiabetic properties. These findings suggested that compound 1 could be a promising lead for the development of antidiabetic agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products from Soft Corals and Their Associated Microbes)

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12 pages, 1754 KB

Open AccessArticle

Cembranoid Diterpenes from South China Sea Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

by Hanyang Peng, Yanbo Zeng, Rui Zhang, Li Yang, Fei Wu, Cuijuan Gai, Jingzhe Yuan, Wenjun Chang, Haofu Dai and Xiachang Wang

Mar. Drugs 2024, 22(12), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/md22120536 - 29 Nov 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2581

Abstract

Cembranoid diterpenes are characteristic compounds of soft corals with diverse structures and significant activities, making them an important source of drug lead compounds. In this paper, five new cembranoid diterpenes, meijicrassolins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the soft coral [...] Read more.

Cembranoid diterpenes are characteristic compounds of soft corals with diverse structures and significant activities, making them an important source of drug lead compounds. In this paper, five new cembranoid diterpenes, meijicrassolins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule, along with five previously reported compounds (6–10). The structures and absolute configuration for new compounds 1–5 were assigned by extensive spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, quantum mechanical nuclear magnetic resonance (QM-NMR), and time-dependent density functional theory/electronic circular dichroism (TDDFT/ECD) calculations. Compounds 3, 4, and 9 showed moderate inhibition of nitric oxide generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Overall, our research results have enriched the library of secondary metabolites from soft corals, providing more molecular entities for subsequent research and development of related compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Soft Corals and Their Derived Microorganisms)

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13 pages, 1658 KB

Open AccessArticle

Six Undescribed Capnosane-Type Macrocyclic Diterpenoids from South China Sea Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule: Structural Determination and Biological Evaluation

by Hanyang Peng, Yanbo Zeng, Hao Wang, Wenjun Chang, Huiqin Chen, Fengjuan Zhou, Haofu Dai and Xiachang Wang

Mar. Drugs 2023, 21(12), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/md21120645 - 18 Dec 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2886

Abstract

Six undescribed capnosane-type macrocyclic diterpenes sarcocrassolins A–F (1–6) and one related known analog pavidolide D (7) were isolated from Sarcophyton crassocaule, a soft coral collected off the Nansha Islands, in the South China Sea. Their complete [...] Read more.

Six undescribed capnosane-type macrocyclic diterpenes sarcocrassolins A–F (1–6) and one related known analog pavidolide D (7) were isolated from Sarcophyton crassocaule, a soft coral collected off the Nansha Islands, in the South China Sea. Their complete structures, relative configurations and absolute configurations were established through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum mechanical nuclear magnetic resonance (QM-NMR) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Sarcocrassolins D (4) and E (5) showed inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 76.8 ± 8.0 μM and 93.0 ± 3.8 μM, respectively. Full article

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21 pages, 1931 KB

Open AccessArticle

13-Acetoxysarcocrassolide Induces Apoptosis on Human Gastric Carcinoma Cells Through Mitochondria-Related Apoptotic Pathways: p38/JNK Activation and PI3K/AKT Suppression

by Ching-Chyuan Su, Jeff Yi-Fu Chen, Zhong-Hao Din, Jui-Hsin Su, Zih-Yan Yang, Yi-Jen Chen, Robert Y.L. Wang and Yu-Jen Wu

Mar. Drugs 2014, 12(10), 5295-5315; https://doi.org/10.3390/md12105295 - 23 Oct 2014

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 9850

Abstract

13-acetoxysarcocrassolide (13-AC), an active compound isolated from cultured Formosa soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule, was found to possess anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities against AGS (human gastric adenocarcinoma cells) gastric carcinoma cells. The anti-tumor effects of 13-AC were determined by MTT assay, colony formation [...] Read more.

13-acetoxysarcocrassolide (13-AC), an active compound isolated from cultured Formosa soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule, was found to possess anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activities against AGS (human gastric adenocarcinoma cells) gastric carcinoma cells. The anti-tumor effects of 13-AC were determined by MTT assay, colony formation assessment, cell wound-healing assay, TUNEL/4,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry. 13-AC inhibited the growth and migration of gastric carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced both early and late apoptosis as assessed by flow cytometer analysis. 13-AC-induced apoptosis was confirmed through observation of a change in ΔΨm, up-regulated expression levels of Bax and Bad proteins, down-regulated expression levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and Mcl-1 proteins, and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-9, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, inhibition of p38 and JNK activity by pretreatment with SB03580 (a p38-specific inhibitor) and SP600125 (a JNK-specific inhibitor) led to rescue of the cell cytotoxicity of 13-AC-treated AGS cells, indicating that the p38 and the JNK pathways are also involved in the 13-AC-induced cell apoptosis. Together, these results suggest that 13-AC induces cell apoptosis against gastric cancer cells through triggering of the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway as well as activation of the p38 and JNK pathways. Full article

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11 pages, 921 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactive Cembranoids, Sarcocrassocolides P–R, from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

by Wan-Yu Lin, Bo-Wei Chen, Chiung-Yao Huang, Zhi-Hong Wen, Ping-Jyun Sung, Jui-Hsin Su, Chang-Feng Dai and Jyh-Horng Sheu

Mar. Drugs 2014, 12(2), 840-850; https://doi.org/10.3390/md12020840 - 28 Jan 2014

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8355

Abstract

New cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides P–R (1–3) and four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3–5 and [...] Read more.

New cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides P–R (1–3) and four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3–5 and 7 were shown to exhibit cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and all compounds 1–7 displayed potent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein. Compound 7 also showed significant activity in reducing the accumulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein in the same macrophage cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Bioactive Compounds from Marine Invertebrates)

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10 pages, 457 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sarcocrassocolides M–O, Bioactive Cembranoids from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

by Wan-Yu Lin, Yi Lu, Bo-Wei Chen, Chiung-Yao Huang, Jui-Hsin Su, Zhi-Hong Wen, Chang-Feng Dai, Yao-Haur Kuo and Jyh-Horng Sheu

Mar. Drugs 2012, 10(3), 617-626; https://doi.org/10.3390/md10030617 - 8 Mar 2012

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 8356

Abstract

Three new cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides M–O (1–3), have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1–3 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and [...] Read more.

Three new cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides M–O (1–3), have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. The structures of the metabolites were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1–3 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines and display significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of the iNOS protein. Full article

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21 pages, 1546 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Investigation into the Cytotoxic Effects of 13-Acetoxysarcocrassolide from the Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule on Bladder Cancer Cells

by Ching-Chyuan Su, Jui-Hsin Su, Jen-Jie Lin, Cheng-Chi Chen, Wen-Ing Hwang, Han Hsiang Huang and Yu-Jen Wu

Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(12), 2622-2642; https://doi.org/10.3390/md9122622 - 13 Dec 2011

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 9844

Abstract

Active compounds from natural products have been widely studied. The anti-tumor effects of 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide isolated from Formosan soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule on bladder cancer cells were examined in this study. An MTT assay showed that 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide was cytotoxic to bladder female transitional cancer [...] Read more.

Active compounds from natural products have been widely studied. The anti-tumor effects of 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide isolated from Formosan soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule on bladder cancer cells were examined in this study. An MTT assay showed that 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide was cytotoxic to bladder female transitional cancer (BFTC) cells. We determined that the BFTC cells underwent cell death through apoptosis by flow cytometry. Due to the highly-migratory nature of the BFTC cells, the ability of 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide to stop their migration was assessed by a wound healing assay. To determine which proteins were affected in the BFTC cells upon treatment, a comparative proteomic analysis was performed. By LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified that 19 proteins were up-regulated and eight were down-regulated. Seven of the proteins were confirmed by western blotting analysis. This study reveals clues to the potential mechanism of the cytotoxic effects of 13-acetoxysarcocrassolide on BFTC cells. Moreover, it suggests that PPT1 and hnRNP F could be new biomarkers for bladder cancer. The results of this study are also helpful for the diagnosis, progression monitoring and therapeutic strategies of transitional cell tumors. Full article

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13 pages, 433 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bioactive Cembranoids from the Dongsha Atoll Soft Coral Sarcophyton crassocaule

by Wan-Yu Lin, Yi Lu, Jui-Hsin Su, Zhi-Hong Wen, Chang-Feng Dai, Yao-Haur Kuo and Jyh-Horng Sheu

Mar. Drugs 2011, 9(6), 994-1006; https://doi.org/10.3390/md9060994 - 9 Jun 2011

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 9885

Abstract

Seven new cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides F–L (1–7), have been isolated from a soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Most new compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against a limited panel of cancer cell lines, [...] Read more.

Seven new cembranoids, sarcocrassocolides F–L (1–7), have been isolated from a soft coral Sarcophyton crassocaule. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Most new compounds exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against a limited panel of cancer cell lines, and the structure–activity relationship was studied. Compounds 1–7 were found to display significant in vitro anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells by inhibiting the expression of the iNOS protein. Compound 4 was also found to effectively reduce the level of COX-2 protein. Full article

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