Khalid Alfooty

The role of new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid and known eudesmane derivatives from the red alga Laurencia obtusa as potential antifungal–antitumour agents

A new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid, eudesma-4(15),7-diene-5,11-diol (1) along with the known trinor-sesquiterene, teuhetenone (2), and a seco-eudesmane sesquiterpene, chabrolidione B (3), have been isolated from the Red Sea red alga Laurencia obtusa. The chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The antifungal and cytotoxic activities of the isolated metabolites were tested against several fungi, yeast and human mammary carcinoma cell line (MCF-7). Compounds 1 and 3 showed a much better activity [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 2.9 μM] than that of amphotericin B (MIC: 4.6 μM). Interestingly, compound 2, the least active antifungal compound, retained the high anticancer activity against MCF-7 (22 μM) in comparison with cisplatin (59 μM), which was determined by employing lactate dehydrogenase assay. Compounds 1–3 are recorded here for the first time from algal flora. The chemotaxonomic importance of the isolated metabolites was discussed.

A review of steroids from Sarcophyton species.

Abstract This review reports the structural diversity of steroids from Sarcophyton species based on literature from the beginning of marine steroid research until now. There are 65 compounds studied from eight species. Most of them are polyhydroxy-type steroids of C-27–C-31 carbon skeleton. Their biological activities are highly diverse ranging from cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic to antiosteoporosis properties.

Isolation, antimicrobial and antitumor activities of a new polyhydroxysteroid and a new diterpenoid from the soft coral Xenia umbellata.

Abstract A new C-30 steroid, 3β-,5α-,6β-,11α-,20β-pentahydroxygorgosterol (1), and a new diterpenoid, xeniumbellal (2), along with three known aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenes, aromadendrene (3), palustrol (4) and viridiflorol (5), were isolated from the soft coral Xenia umbellata. Chemical structures were determined by analyzing their NMR and MS data. The antimicrobial and antitumor activities of the isolated compounds were examined. Both 1 and 2 showed moderate antibacterial activities, especially against the multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MIC 0.22 and 0.28 mM, respectively); while 2 showed antitumor activity against a lymphoma cell line with LD50 0.57 mM and was nontoxic to Artemia salina at all tested concentrations up to about 4 mM.

Bio-active maneonenes and isomaneonene from the red alga Laurencia obtusa

Three previously undescribed compounds, maneonenes and isomaneonene derivatives; in addition to five known compounds, two cuparene, one chamigrene, and two cis-maneonenes were isolated from the Red Sea red alga Laurencia obtusa. The chemical structures of all unknown metabolites were characterized employing spectroscopic methods and then were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Jeddahenyne A has C-5-C-12 etheric linkage and C-13-C-14 carbon-carbon double bond; Jeddahenyne B has in addition to the aforementioned etheric linkage a C-13 carbonyl function and absence of halogenation, unusual features for the maneonenes while 12-debromo-12-methoxy isomaneonene A shows unrecorded methoxylation at C-12. The apoptosis-inducing or inhibiting effect of both compounds on apoptosis of peripheral blood neutrophils was studied.

Antimicrobial sesquiterpenoids from Laurencia obtusa Lamouroux

Abstract Purification of the organic extract of Laurencia obtusa Lamouroux by column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography provided four new compounds: a eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid [eudesma-4(15),11-diene-5,7-diol (1)], a cuparane-type sesquiterpenoid [10-hydroxycuparaldehyde (2)], and two nor-cuparanes [3-hydroxy-15-nor-cuparan-10β-ol (3) and 2-bromo-3-hydroxy-15-nor-cuparan-10β-ol (4)]. Structural identification was made possible by comparison of spectral data with those reported in the literature. Compounds 3 and 4 are significant as nor-cuparanes are rarely isolated from marine environment. 1 showed moderate anticandidal activity, whereas 2 exhibited reasonable antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria (especially Gram-positive). All the compounds are nontoxic to Artemia salina.

Microbiological hydroxylation of some epoxy steroids by the fungus Mucor plumbeus

The preparation of epoxy steroids derived from testosterone, dehydroisoandrosterone and epiandrosterone using m-chloroperbenzoic acid and their biotransformation by the fungus Mucor plumbeus is described. The results reveal an effect of the epoxide on the biotransformation.

Isolaurenidificin and Bromlaurenidificin, Two New C15-Acetogenins from the Red Alga Laurencia obtusa

Chromatographic fractionation of the CH2Cl2/MeOH extract of the Red Sea red alga Laurencia obtusa gave two new hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-based C15-acetogenins, namely, isolaurenidificin (1) and bromlaurenidificin (2). The chemical structures were elucidated based on extensive analyses of their spectral data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no toxicity (LC50 > 12 mM) using Artemia salina as test organism. Both compounds showed weak cytotoxicity against A549, HepG-2, HCT116, MCF-7, and PC-3 cells, however, they exhibited a relatively potent cytotoxic activity against peripheral blood neutrophils. This can be attributed partly to induction of apoptosis.