Three new cembranoids from the Bornean soft coral Nephthea sp.

Abstract

Three new cembranoid diterpenes, 10-hydroxy-nephthenol acetate (1), 7,8-epoxy-10-hydroxy-nephthenol acetate (2), and 6-acetoxy-7,8-epoxy-10-hydroxy-nephthenol acetate (3), along with a known compound, 6-acetoxy-7,8-epoxy-nephthenol acetate (4), were isolated from the Bornean soft coral Nephthea sp. Antibacterial and anticancer activities were exhibited by compounds 1 and 2 against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538)/Escherichia coli (ATCC 13311) and Hela/MCF-7, respectively.

Keywords:

• Cembranoid
• Nephthea sp.
• Nephtheidae
• Bornean soft coral

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the directors of Sabah Biodiversity Centre, and Sabah Parks for his support and assistance during the course of this investigation. The authors would also like to acknowledge Mr Kishneth Palaniveloo and Ms Sangeetha Priya Anangdan for assistance during sample collection.