New 3,4-seco-3,19-Dinor- and Spongian-Based Diterpenoid Lactones from the Marine Sponge Spongia sp.

Abstract

Continuing chemical investigation of the Red Sea sponge Spongia sp. led to the isolation of four new 3,4-seco-3,19-dinorspongian diterpenoid lactones, secodinorspongins A−D (1−4), along with a classical spongian diterpenoid lactone, sponginolide (5). The chemical structures, including the absolute configurations of these compounds, were elucidated using the extensive spectroscopic study composed of 1D and 2D NMR data analyses, and a comparison between calculated-electronic-circular-dichroism (ECD) and experimental-circular-dichroism (CD) spectra. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1−4 was also proposed. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of 1−5 were evaluated. Compound 1 was found to exhibit inhibitory activity against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and 4 and 5 exhibited suppression of superoxide-anion generation and elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils.

1. Introduction

Spongian diterpenoids and structurally related metabolites are a series of natural products with unique structures distributed in sponges of the genus Spongia, and the structural diversity and potential biological significance of these compounds are well known [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Recently, we have reported the discovery of new spongian diterpenes, including four rare 5,5,6,6,5-pentacyclic diterpenoids, from a Red Sea sponge, Spongia sp. [12,13]. Some of these compounds have been shown to display antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In our continuing study on the chemical constituents from this sponge, we further discovered four new 3,4-seco-3,19-dinorspongian diterpenoid lactones, secodinorspongins A−D (1−4), and one classical spongian diterpenoid lactone, sponginolide (5) (Figure 1). Compounds with the same carbon skeleton of 1−4 have been found only two times so far [1,2], and were discovered in Red Sea sponges for the first time. The relative structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were established by the analyses of MS, UV, IR, NMR, and CD spectra (Supplementary Figures S1–S51 and Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4). Furthermore, the cytotoxicity, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of 1−5 were assayed. Herein, we report the isolation, structural elucidation, and bioactivity evaluation of these compounds.

2. Results and Discussion

The lyophilized sponge Spongia sp. (550 g) was extracted with a solvent mixture of CH₂Cl₂/EtOAc/MeOH (1:1:0.5, v/v). The crude extract was partitioned between CH₂Cl₂ and H₂O, to afford the CH₂Cl₂ fraction (18.5 g), which was fractionated repeatedly, using column chromatography, to yield compounds 1 (1.4 mg), 2 (4.3 mg), 3 (4.0 mg), 4 (1.3 mg) and 5 (3.0 mg) (Figure 1).

The HRESIMS of metabolite 1 exhibited the [M + H]⁺ peak at m/z 321.1696 (calcd for C₁₈H₂₅O₅, 321.1697, Supplementary Figure S1) and established a molecular formula of C₁₈H₂₄O₅, appropriate with seven degrees of unsaturation. The IR spectrum of 1 showed the presence of hydroxy (3462 cm⁻¹), carbonyl (1748, 1698 and 1684 cm⁻¹) and olefinic (1653 cm⁻¹) functional groups (Supplementary Figure S3). The ¹³C NMR data of 1 displayed 18 carbon signals (

Table 1. ¹³C and ¹H NMR data for compounds 1–4 (125/500 MHz) in acetone-d₆.

	1		2		3		4
Position	δH	δC	δH	δC	δH	δC	δH	δC
1	2.30, d (14.5) a	44.2, CH2	2.29, m	44.5, CH2	2.30, d (14.5)	44.4, CH2	2.29, d (14.5)	44.3, CH2
	2.57, d (14.5)		2.54, d (13.0)		2.55, d (14.5)		2.54, d (14.5)
2	−	172.8, C	−	174.8, C	−	172.8, C	−	172.9, C
4	−	211.6, C	−	211.9 C	−	211.9, C	−	211.9, C
5	3.15, dd (13.0, 3.5)	56.3, CH	3.20, br d (11.5)	56.2, CH	3.11, dd (12.5, 3.5)	56.5, CH	3.11, dd (12.5, 3.5)	56.4, CH
6α	1.78, ddd (13.5, 7.0, 3.5)	22.1, CH2	1.73, m	21.9, CH2	1.75, ddd (13.5, 7.0, 3.5)	22.1, CH2	1.74, ddd (13.5, 7.0, 3.5)	22.1, CH2
6β	1.90, dd (13.5, 3.5)		1.87, m		1.82, td (13.5, 3.5)		1.81, dd (13.5, 3.5)
7α	1.54, td (13.5, 3.5)	36.1, CH2	1.33, m	30.9, CH2	1.22, td (13.5, 3.5)	35.2, CH2	1.25, td (13.5, 3.5)	35.5, CH2
7β	1.83, dt (13.5, 3.5)		2.27, m		2.61, dt (13.5, 3.5)		2.57, dt (13.5, 3.5)
8	−	37.6, C	−	43.7, C	−	35.9, C	−	35.9, C
9	1.67, m	48.7, CH	1.77, m	48.9, CH	1.63, m	49.6, CH	1.59, m	49.3, CH
10	−	40.2, C	−	40.1, C	−	40.2, C	−	40.2, C
11α	2.06, m	18.6, CH2	2.05, m	18.1, CH2	2.07, m	18.7, CH2	2.06, m	18.7, CH2
11β	1.65, m		1.77, m		1.63, m		1.59, m
12α	2.05, m	22.2, CH2	2.11, m	22.1, CH2	2.34, m	25.6, CH2	2.37, m	24.7, CH2
12β	2.29, m		2.29, m		2.48, m		2.53, m
13	−	123.9, C	−	125.1, C	−	161.2, C	−	160.1, C
14	−	171.2, C	−	169.8, C	−	135.1, C	−	138.2, C
15α	4.72, dd (17.0, 2.5)	68.8, CH2	4.71, dd (17.0)	72.3, CH2	−	172.5, C	−	169.7, C
15β	4.86, dt (17.0, 2.5)		5.00, dt (17.0)
16α	−	174.3, C	−	174.8, C	4.67, d (17.5)	71.3, C	−	97.5, CH
16β					4.61, d (17.5)		5.88, d (4.0)
17	1.26, s	21.4, CH3	3.71, d (10.0)	64.3, CH2	1.18, s	20.8, CH3	1.17, s	21.4, CH3
			4.15, d (10.0)
18	2.23, s	31.8, CH3	2.23, s	31.9, CH3	2.22, s	31.7, CH3	2.22, s	31.7, CH3
20	1.07, s	19.5, CH3	1.01, s	20.0, CH3	1.05, s	19.5, CH3	1.04, s	19.5, CH3

^aJ values (Hz) in parentheses.

), which were assigned with the assistance of the ¹H and HSQC spectrum into three methyls (δ_C 31.8, 21.4, and 19.5), six methylenes (δ_C 44.2, 36.1, 22.2, 22.1, and 18.6, including one oxygenated methylene δ_C 68.8), two methines (δ_C 56.3 and 48.7) and seven non-protonated carbons (δ_C 211.6, 174.3, 172.8, 171.2, 123.9, 40.2, and 37.6). In total, the NMR spectroscopic data of 1 (Table 1) showed signals for an α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone (δ_C 174.3, C; 171.2, C; 123.9, C and 68.8, CH₂; δ_H 4.86, dt, J = 17.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H and 4.72, dd, J = 17.0, 2.5 Hz, 1H) [2,12,14,15]. Furthermore, the ¹H–¹H COSY experiment showed the presence of two partial structures (Figure 2), which were further connected by analysis of the HMBC correlations (Figure 2), to establish the planar structure of 1 as 3,4-seco-3,19-dinorspongian diterpenoid lactone.

In the NOESY spectrum of compound 1, the following NOE interactions were found (Figure 3): H₃-17 with H₃-20, both H₃-17 and H₃-20 with one proton (δ_H 1.90) of H₂-6 and one proton (δ_H 1.65) of H₂-11, and H₃-17 with one proton (δ_H 1.83) of H₂-7 and one proton (δ_H 4.86) of H₂-15. The above finding revealed that these protons must be located in the same orientation and were assumed to be β protons [2,12]. In contrast, the NOE correlations of the H-7α (δ_H 1.54) with both H-5 and H-9, and of H-9 with H-5 and H-12α (δ_H 2.05), indicated that these protons must be positioned on the α-face [2,12]. Furthermore, a comparison of the experimental ECD spectrum with those calculated for 1a (5R,8R,9R,10R-1) and 1b (5S,8S,9S,10S-1) allowed us to conclude the 5R,8R,9R,10R- configuration for 1 (Figure 4a). Accordingly, the structure of 1 was identified as a new 3,4-seco-3,19-dinorspongian diterpene, and named secodinorspongin A.

The ¹³C and ¹H NMR data of compound 2 are very similar to those of 1 (Table 1), except that a methyl group (δ_H 1.26, 3H, s and δ_C 21.4, CH₃) at C-8 in 1 was oxidized to a hydroxymethyl (δ_H 4.15 and 3.71, each 1H, d, J= 10.0 Hz; δ_C 64.3, CH₂) in 2. The detailed analyses of 2D NMR correlations disclosed from the HMBC, COSY and NOESY experiments confirmed that 2 is the 17-hydroxylated derivative of 1 (Figure 2 and Figure 3).

The NMR data of compound 3 are also similar to those of 1 (Table 1); however, notable differences were observed for NMR chemical shifts of CH₂-7, CH₂-12, and CH₃-17. A comparison of their HMBC correlations also showed distinct differences in the correlation of H₂-12. These protons correlated with the ester carbonyl carbon in 1 (Figure 2), whereas the same protons correlated with the oxygenated methylene carbon in 3 (Figure 2). Furthermore, the NOE correlations of H₃-17 with H-7β and H₃-20, and of H-5 with H-7α and H-9 suggested a 5R*,8R*,9R*,10R* relative configuration for 3 (Figure 3).

A high similarity in the ¹³C and ¹H NMR data between metabolites 3 and 4 (Table 1) was observed, with the exception being that the 16-oxymethylene group (δ_H 4.67 and 4.61, each 1H, d, J = 17.5 Hz; δ_C 71.3, CH₂) in γ-lactone of 3 was converted to an acetal (δ_H 5.88, 1H, d, J = 4.0 Hz; δ_C 97.5, CH) in 4. The detailed analyses observed by 2D NMR experiments confirmed that 4 is a 16-hydroxylated derivative of 3 (Figure 2). However, due to the lack of NOE interaction of H-16 with other protons in 4 (Figure 3), the configuration of C-16 was determined by comparison of the calculated ECD with experimental CD spectra (Figure 4c). The experimental CD curve of 4 was found to be quite similar to 4a (5R,8R,9R,10R and 16R) rather than 4b (5S,8S,9S,10S and 16S) or 4c (5R,8R,9R,10R and 16S) (Figure 4c). On the basis of the above results, the structure of 4 was determined, and named secodinorspongin D.

It is suggested that compounds 1–4 share the same biogenetic origin, as they are obtained from the same organism. Consequently, we propose that 1–4 might be biosynthesized from the spongian diterpene (i.e., 6, Scheme 1). The initial oxidation at C-3 and C-19 and the subsequent decarboxylation resulting in the loss of C-19 and dehydration, generate a methyl cyclohexene moiety. Further oxidative cleavage on the double bond of the cyclohexene ring and oxidation at C-2 give intermediate 7 (Scheme 1). With the loss of CO₂ from the β-keto acid moiety and the subsequent oxidation at the relevant position, diterpenes 1–4 may be generated, as illustrated in Scheme 1.

The molecular formula of metabolite 5 was determined to be C₂₀H₃₀O₄, from the HRESIMS (m/z 357.2035 [M + Na]⁺, calcd for C₂₀H₃₀O₄Na, 357.2036), indicating six degrees of unsaturation. The IR spectrum displayed the absorptions of hydroxyl (3446 cm⁻¹) and carbonyl (1748 cm⁻¹) functionalities. The analysis of NMR spectral data, including ¹H–¹H COSY, HMBC, and NOE correlations (

Table 2. ¹³C and ¹H NMR data for compound 5 (150/600 MHz) in CDCl₃.

5
Position	δH	δC	Position	δH	δC
1	1.35, m	32.9, CH2	10	−	37.5, C
	1.51, m		11	1.52, m	16.8, CH2
2α	1.61, m	24.9, CH2	12α	2.13, m	21.4, CH2
2β	2.00, t (3.0) a		12β	2.41, dd (18.6, 6.6)
3	3.44, t (3.0)	75.9, CH	13	−	127.7, C
4	−	37.6, C	14	−	167.6, C
5	1.41, m	49.2, CH	15	6.06, br s	96.8, CH
6	1.57, m	17.7, CH2	16	−	173.5, C
7α	1.50, m	36.8, CH2	17	1.25, s	20.6, CH3
7β	2.04, m		18	0.96, s	28.2, CH3
8	−	37.6, C	19	0.87, s	21.8, CH3
9	1.18, m	55.6, CH	20	0.93, s	16.4, CH3

^a J values (Hz) in parentheses.

and Figure 2 and Figure 3), suggested the gross structure of 5 was a (3R*, 5R*, 8R*, 9R*, 10R*)-spongian diterpene (Figure 3). Furthermore, the relative stereochemistry of C-3 was also identified by the comparison of the NMR data of 5 with those of the 3-epimeric analogs, aglaiabbreviatin C (8) [16] and 3β-hydroxy-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanordammaran-20-one (9) [17] (Figure 5). The proton chemical shift and coupling patterns of H-3 (δ_H 3.44, t, J = 3.0 Hz) of 5 were similar to that of 8 (δ_H 3.40, t, J = 2.9 Hz) rather than that of 9 (δ_H 3.22, dd, J = 11.5 and 5.3 Hz) in CDCl₃. Moreover, the experimental CD curve of 5 was found to be quite similar to 5a (3R,5R,8R,9R,10R,15R-5) rather than 5b (3S,5S,8S,9S,10S,15S-5) and 5c (3R,5R,8R,9R, 10R,15S-5) (Figure 4d). On the basis of the above results, the structure of 5 was determined, and named sponginolide.

The cytotoxic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of 1–5 were analyzed in order to discover their potential medicinal application. The cytotoxicities of these compounds against the proliferation of the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Huh7 cell line were evaluated using the resazurin assay [18,19], and none of them showed notable inhibition regarding the growth of the HCC Huh7 cells. Furthermore, compound 1 exhibited 43%, 54%, and 75% inhibition at 50, 100, and 200 µM, respectively, in the assay for the growth inhibition of S. aureus (

Table 3. Inhibitory effects of compounds 1–5 on the growth of S. aureus.

Compound	Growth of S. aureus
	50 µM (%, Mean ± SD)	100 µM (%, Mean ± SD)	200 µM (%, Mean ± SD)
1	57.2 ± 6.4	46.4 ± 22.3	25.0 ± 20.5
2	96.7 ± 3.1	96.3 ± 4.7	96.2 ± 4.8
3	101.2 ± 2.4	100.4 ± 2.3	100.1 ± 3.5
4	100.4 ± 9.9	98.4 ± 2.3	95.7 ± 7.8
5	102.2 ± 6.9	103.2 ± 8.1	101.5 ± 7.7
Tetracycline a	0.9 ± 0.3

^a Tetracycline was used as a positive control at 0.5 µg/mL.

). In the anti-inflammatory assay (

Table 4. Inhibitory effects of compounds 1–5 on superoxide anion generation and elastase release, zº by human neutrophils.

Compound	Superoxide Anion		Elastase Release
	IC50 (μM) a	Inh% b	IC50 (μM)	Inh%
1	>20	7.1 ± 5.3	>20	12.2 ± 2.4 **
2	>20	7.2 ± 2.4 *	>20	18.5 ± 1.7 ***
3	>20	3.7 ± 2.7	>20	17.6 ± 2.3 **
4	>20	20.4 ± 4.5 **	>20	30.8 ± 2.6 ***
5	>20	22.0 ± 4.6 **	>20	22.5 ± 4.2 **
LY294002	1.9 ± 0.8 ***	88.7 ± 1.5 ***	2.9 ± 0.1 ***	79.5 ± 2.0 ***

Results are presented as mean ± S.E.M. (n = 3). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 compared with the control value (DMSO). ^a Concentration required for 50% inhibition (IC50). ^b Percentage of inhibition (Inh %) at 20 μM.

), compounds 1–5, at 20 μM, exhibited suppression of superoxide anion generation (7.1 ± 5.3%, 7.2 ± 2.4%, 3.7 ± 2.7%, 20.4 ± 4.5 and 22.0 ± 4.6, respectively) and elastase release (12.2 ± 2.4%, 18.5 ± 1.7%, 17.6 ± 2.3%, 30.8 ± 2.6 and 22.5 ± 4.2, respectively) by fMLF/CB-stimulated human neutrophils [20,21,22].

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Experimental Procedures

The NMR experiments of all the compounds were recorded on a Varian Unity INOVA 500 FT-NMR (Varian Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). Specific optical rotations were performed in MeOH on the Jasco P-1020 polarimeter (JASCO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). The IR spectra were recorded on an FT/IR-4100 infrared spectrophotometer (JASCO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Measurements of circular-dichroism spectra were performed on a Jasco J-715 CD spectrometer (JASCO Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). HRESIMS were measured on the Impact HD Q-TOF (Bruker, Bremen, Germany) mass spectrometer. Pre-coated silica gel plates (Silica gel 60 F254, 100 μm, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), or C18 gel plates (Silica gel 60 RP-18 F₂₅₄s, 100 μm, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were used for analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The silica gel (40−63 μm, Merck, Billerica, U.S.A.) and reversed-phase silica gel (RP-18, 40−63 μm, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were applied for column chromatography. The Hitachi L-2455 HPLC apparatus (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) with a Supelco C18 column (250 × 21.2 mm, 5 μm, Supelco, Bellefonte, PA, USA) were used for HPLC.

3.2. Animal Material

The sponges Spongia sp. were collected from the coast of the Red Sea (21^o22′11.08″ N, 39^o06′56.62″ E), Saudi Arabia, in March 2016. The species of sponges was identified by Prof. Y. M. Huang. The voucher sample (RSS-1) was deposited at the Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

3.3. Extraction and Separation

The freeze-dried sponges (550 g) were minced and extracted with MeOH/EtOAc/ CH₂Cl₂ (1/1/0.5). The crude extract was suspended in water and partitioned with CH₂Cl₂ to obtain CH₂Cl₂ (18.47 g) fraction. The CH₂Cl₂ fraction was chromatographed on silica gel with n-hexane−EtOAc (100:0 to 0:100, stepwise) and then EtOAc−MeOH (3:1 to 0:100, stepwise) to yield 12 fractions (F1–F12).

Fraction F3 (0.987 g, EtOAc/n-hexane 1:9) was isolated using column chromatography on the reversed-phase silica gel with H₂O−MeOH (100:0 to 0:100, stepwise), to yield six subfractions (F3-1 to F3-6). Subfraction F3-4 (79.1 mg, MeOH/H₂O 3:2) was further isolated using reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH/H₂O 7:3), to give seven subfractions (F3-4-1 to F3-4-7). F3-4-3 (18.3 mg) was purified using reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH/H₂O 13:12), to obtain compounds 1 (1.4 mg) and 3 (4.0 mg).

Fraction F7 (1.505 g, EtOAc/n-hexane 3:1) was isolated using column chromatography on the reversed-phase silica gel with H₂O−MeOH (100:0 to 0:100, stepwise), to yield eight subfractions (F7-1 to F7-8). Subfraction F7-3 (146.3 mg, MeOH/H₂O 2:3) was further isolated using reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH/H₂O 1:1), to give ten subfractions (F7-3-1 to F7-3-10). F7-3-6 (28.2 mg) was purified using reversed-phase HPLC (CH₃CN /H₂O 1:3), to obtain 2 (4.3 mg) and 4 (1.3 mg). F7-5 (72.1 mg, MeOH/H₂O 8:2) was isolated using reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH/H₂O 9:1), to give 6 subfractions (F7-5-1 to F7-5-6); F7-5-3 (19.3 mg) was purified using reversed-phase HPLC (MeOH/H₂O 1:1), to afford 5 (3.0 mg).

3.3.1. Secodinorspongin A (1)

Colorless oil, ${\left[\mathsf{\alpha }\right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −34.3 (c = 0.38, CH₃OH); UV (CH₃OH) λ_max (logε): 208 nm (3.46); IR (neat) ν_max 3462, 2921, 1748, 1698, 1684 and 1653 cm^–1; CD experimental data and cartesian coordinates of conformer 1a, see Figure 4a and Supplementary Tables S1 and S2, respectively; ¹H NMR and ¹³C data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 321.1696 [M + H]⁺ (calcd for C₁₈H₂₅O₅, 321.1697).

3.3.2. Secodinorspongin B (2)

Colorless oil, ${\left[\mathsf{\alpha }\right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −44.3 (c = 0.43, CH₃OH); UV (CH₃OH) λ_max (logε): 211 nm (3.58); IR (neat) ν_max 3393, 2948, 2836, 1733, 1697, 1684 and 1654 cm^–1; CD experimental data, see Supplementary Table S3; ¹H NMR and ¹³C data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 337.1644 [M + H]⁺ (calcd for C₁₈H₂₅O₆, 337.1646).

3.3.3. Secodinorspongin C (3)

Colorless oil, ${\left[\mathsf{\alpha }\right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −29.0 (c = 0.40, CH₃OH); UV (CH₃OH) λ_max (logε): 205 nm (3.27); IR (neat) ν_max 3392, 2947, 2835, 1734, 1698, 1684 and 1653 cm^–1; CD experimental data and cartesian coordinates of conformer 3a, see Figure 4b and Supplementary Tables S4 and S5, respectively; ¹H NMR and ¹³C data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 321.1699 [M + H]⁺ (calcd for C₁₈H₂₅O₅, 321.1697).

3.3.4. Secodinorspongin D (4)

Colorless oil, ${\left[\mathsf{\alpha }\right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −26.0 (c = 0.35, CH₃OH); UV (CH₃OH) λ_max (logε): 209 nm (3.71); IR (neat) ν_max 3446, 2949, 1748, 1700, 1684 and 1654 cm^–1; CD experimental data and cartesian coordinates of conformers 4a and 4c, see Figure 4c and Supplementary Tables S6–S8, respectively; ¹H NMR and ¹³C data, see Table 1; HRESIMS m/z 337.1648 [M + H]⁺ (calcd for C₁₈H₂₅O₆, 337.1646).

3.3.5. Sponginolide (5)

Colorless oil, ${\left[\mathsf{\alpha }\right]}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ +30.5 (c = 0.30, CH₃OH); UV (CH₃OH) λ_max (logε): 208 nm (3.66); IR (neat) ν_max 3446, 2923, 2854 and 1748 cm^–1; CD experimental data and cartesian coordinates of conformer 5a and 5c, see Figure 4d and Supplementary Tables S10–S12, respectively; ¹H NMR and ¹³C data, see Table 2 and Supplementary Table S9; ESIMS m/z 357 [M + Na] ⁺; HRESIMS m/z 357.2035 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd for C₂₀H₃₀O₄Na, 357.2036).

3.4. DFT and TD-DFT Calculations

The geometry optimization of conformers was performed using DFT calculation at B3LYP/6-31G + (d) level of theory, and the resulting conformers were subsequently calculated using the time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach at CAM-B3LYP/6-311 + G(d,p) (compound 1) or at B3LYP/6-31 + G(d,p) (compounds 3–5) level of theory [23]. The calculations were performed using Gaussian 09 program [24] with the integral-equation-formalism-polarizable-continuum (IEFPCM) solvent model in MeOH. The ECD curves were simulated using GaussSum 2.2.5, and then illustrated with Microsoft Excel.

3.5. Cytotoxicity Assay

The human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) Huh7 cells were used in the resazurin assay (Cayman Chemical) to evaluate the cytotoxicity of compounds (Supplementary Table S13). The method was performed as described previously [18,19], and the detailed process of the cytotoxicity assay was the same as in our previous publications [12,25]. Sorafenib, the positive control, inhibited 52% of the growth of Huh7 cells at 12.5 µM, and the DMSO controls were assigned 100% of relative cell-viability.

3.6. Antibacterial Assay

The antibacterial assay was processed using the previously reported methods [26]. The culture and dilution of S. aureus were performed as previously described [12,25]. The bacteria aliquots were plated (100 μL/well of 96-well plate) with the tested compounds (cpd) at concentrations of 50 μM, 100 μM, and 200 μM. A total of 1% DMSO in LB solution (background control), 1% DMSO in the diluted bacteria solution (positive control), and 0.5 µg/mL tetracycline (known-drug control) were plated on the same plate. After incubation at 37 °C for 16 h, the plate was measured by the absorbance at 600 nm (A), and then the percentage of S. aureus growth was measured using the following equation: [(Acpd—Acpd_basal) − Abackground control]/[(Apositive control − Apositive control_basal) − Abackground control] × 100.

3.7. Anti-Inflammatory Activity

The methods using dextran sedimentation, Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation, and hypotonic lysis to enrich the neutrophils, which were isolated from the blood of healthy adult volunteers and incubated in Ca^{2 +} -free HBSS buffer (pH 7.4, ice-cold), were described in a previous paper [22].

3.8. Inhibition of Superoxide Anion Generation

The method was performed as described previously [20,21], and the detailed process of incubating and treating neutrophils was the same as in our previous publications [12,25]. After cytochalasin B (CB, 1 μg/mL) for 3 min, the 100 nM fMLF for 10 min (fMLF/CB) was used to activate neutrophils, and the positive control LY294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-1(4H)-benzopyran-4-one] was used. The wavelength 550 nm (spectrophotometer U-3010, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) was used to measure the generation of the superoxide anion.

3.9. Inhibition of Elastase Release

The method was performed as described previously [20,21], and the detailed process of incubating and treating neutrophils was the same as in our previous publications [12,25]. The fMLF (100 nM)/CB (0.5 μg/mL) for 10 min, was used to activate neutrophils, and the wavelength 405 nm (spectrophotometer U-3010, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) was used to measure the generation of elastase release.

4. Conclusions

The new dinorditerpenoid lactones 1−4 have the rare 3,4-seco-3,19-dinorspongian structure. In the previous study, compounds of this skeleton [1,2] did not show cytotoxicity, and the same situation was also found for metabolites 1−4. However, the current study revealed that compound 1 possessed notable inhibition against the growth of S. aureus, while 4 and 5 exhibited in vitro anti-inflammatory potential through the inhibitory activity against the generation of the superoxide anion and elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils. In prior studies, most of the spongian diterpenoids were not found to exhibit conspicuous biological activities [1,2,4,6,12,13]; however, few analogs with 3,19-dihydroxyl-2-one fragment in the A-ring and/or furano D-ring [2,3,4,8,9,10,11,13,27] were reported to have potent cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral activities. In this study, compounds 1−5, which lack the aforementioned functionality, could be responsible for the deficiency of cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities.