Anti-inflammatory norditerpenoids from the soft coral Sinularia maxima

Chemical investigation of the soft coral Sinularia maxima resulted in the isolation of seven norditerpenoids, including two new compounds, 12-hydroxy-scabrolide A (2) and 13-epi-scabrolide C (6). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic evidence including Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and both one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR, respectively), in comparison with reported data. Compound 6 potently inhibited IL-12 and IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated bone marrow derived dendritic (BMDCs) with IC(50) values of 5.30 ± 0.21 and 13.12 ± 0.64 μM, respectively. Compound 1 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against IL-12 and IL-6 production with IC(50) values of 23.52 ± 1.37 and 69.85 ± 4.11 μM, respectively.