title: Sesquiterpenoid metabolites with antiplasmodial activity from a Caribbean gorgonian coral, Eunicea sp.
abstract: A chemical investigation of the Caribbean gorgonian octocoral Eunicea sp. collected along the northwest coast of Puerto Rico has afforded seven new secondary metabolites, 1-7, belonging to several types of sesquiterpenes, including elemane, eudesmane, and germacrane types, along with the known steroidal glycoside 8. Some of the new metabolites, 4-7, carry an unusual ester side chain at the C-6 position. The structures of all compounds, including their relative stereochemistry, were determined by combined spectroscopic methods. The present compounds exhibited a significant inhibitory effect upon the growth of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, P.O. Box 23346, U.P.R. Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3346, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Garzón
authors.forename: Abimael D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortega-Barria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000187:drug effects*; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D012717:Sesquiterpenes