Pseudopterosins elisabethae

A recent example demonstrates that corals rely on induced biosynthesis of terpenes as a dynamic defense strategy as well. The induction of terpenoid secondary metabolites was observed in the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae [162]. Levels of pseudopterosins 89-92, a group of diterpene glycosides with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (Scheme 23) [163-165], are increased in response predation by the mollusk Cyphoma gibbosum. First bioassays indicate that these natural products are involved in the chemical defense. 

Scheme 23 Inducible pseudopterosins in the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae...

A C9-C14 cycHzation forms the ring C and leads to the amphilectane skeleton which is foimd for instance in pseudopterosins A-F (10, aglycone) [10] isolated from Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae extracts stemming from a Bahamian collection site (Fig. 5). This class of natural products can be characterized as... 

The pseudopterosins and seco-pseudopterosin isolated from Bahamian specimens of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae display strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. These diterpene glycosides had potencies superior to those of... 

Caribbean coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae discovered by Fenical et al. [47], Pseudopterosin E, Fig. (3) is the one with the best pharmacological profile, combining low toxicity and potent antiinflammatory activity. In human neutrophils, pseudopterosin E inhibits degranulation and formation of Ieukotrienes [2], In 1991, phase I clinical trials were initiated with pseudopterosin E as a topical anti-inflammatory agent. Recently, novel anti-inflammatory natural products have been isolated from this Caribbean soft coral [48,49], Japanese researchers reported the isolation of a group of compounds designated helioporins A-E, which are related to the pseudopterosins [1],... 

Mayer, A. M. S., Jacobson, P. B., Fenical, W., Jacobs, R. S., and Glaser, K. S., Pharmacological characterization of the pseudopterosins novel anti-inflammatory natural products isolated from the Caribbean soft coral, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, Pharmacol. Lett., 62, 401, 1998. 

An example of a natural product from a marine organism that has been commercialized is an extract from sea whips (Pseudopterogoogia elisabethae). This extract is used in the manufacture of certain cosmetic products. The active ingredient is believed to be a class of diterpine glycosides (pseudopterosins) that apparently has some antiinflammatory activity. 

Pseudopterosin A (129), which is a diterpene glycoside isolated from the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae, shows anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting release of leukotriene B2 from leukocytes (2, 35). A more interesting class of diter-penes includes sarcodictyn A (130) and elentherobin (131), which were isolated from the soft corals Sarcodictyon roseum and Eleutherobia sp., respectively. These diterpenoids show potent cytotoxicity by stabilizing microtnbnles (2, 35). 

Sanchez JA, Ortega-Barria E, Gonzalez J. New pseudopterosin 134. and seco-pseudopterosin diterpene glycosides from two Colombian isolates of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae and their diverse biological activities. J. Nat. Prod. 2004 67 1672-1680. 

Puyana M, Narvaez G, Paz A, Osorno O, Duque C. Pseudopterosin content variability of the purple sea whip Pseu- 137. dopterogorgia elisabethae at the islands of San Andres and Providencia (SW Caribbean). J. Chem. Ecol. 2004 30 1183-1201. 

A few reports on anti-CMV compounds of marine origin belonging to other structural types have also been found in the literature. Examples included two plastoquinones isolated from the brown alga Sargassum micracanthum which was found to have potent antiviral activity against human CMV [114], and pseudopterosin P, Fig. (9) from the sea whip Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae [98]. 

Recently, Pseudopterosin C, a diterpene riboside isolated from the gorgonian corals Pseudopterogorgia bipinata and P. elisabethae [134] was launched by Estde Lauder as an additive to anti-aging cosmetics. It exhibits potent antiinflammatory and analgesic activities by reversibly affecting both, lipoxygenase and phospholipase A2 [135]. 

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