New cytotoxic cembranolides from an Okinawan soft coral, Lobophytum sp.

Three new cembranolides (1-3) were isolated from an Okinawan soft coral, Lobophytum sp., together with the known cembranolide diterpenoids (4-9). Their structures were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, IR, and MS), molecular modeling, and comparison with data reported elsewhere. All compounds contain an alpha-methylene-gamma-lactone ring adjacent to a cembrane, and some of them (1, 6-8) have an epoxide ring as well. The new metabolites were evaluated for cytotoxicity against HeLa, A459, B16-F10, and RAW 264.7 cells and anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated inflammatory RAW 264.7 macrophage cells.