Durumolides A-E, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial cembranolides from the soft coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigations on the acetone extract of the soft coral Lobophytum durum have afforded five new cembranoids with a trans-fused alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone, durumolides A-E (1, 6, and 8-10), and five previously characterized cembrane-based diterpenoids (2-5 and 7). The Structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the relative stereochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 3-5 and 8 were established by application of modified Mosher's method. The anti-inflammatory effects, antibacterial activities, and inhibition assay of HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) endonuclease activity of these isolated metabolites 1-10 were evaluated in Vitro. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.