IDENTIFICATION OF NEW POLYPRENYL HYDROQUINONE DERIVATIVES FROM TROPICAL MARINE SPONGE IRCINIA SP.

Chemical investigations of the tropical marine sponge of the genus Ircinia have resulted in the isolation of three new polyprenyl chromenes (1-3), together with known hydroquinone derivatives (4-9). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of mass spectrometry and detailed 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated. Compounds 7, 8, and 9 exhibited moderate inhibition of LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.