Seven New Lobane Diterpenoids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum catalai

Abstract

Seven new lobane diterpenoids, namely, lobocatalens A–G (1–7), were isolated from the Xisha soft coral Lobophytum catalai. Their structures, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated via spectroscopic analysis, comparison with the literature data, QM-MNR, and TDDFT-ECD calculations. Among them, lobocatalen A (1) is a new lobane diterpenoid with an unusual ether linkage between C-14 and C-18. In addition, compound 7 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity in the zebrafish models and cytotoxic activity against the K562 human cancer cell line.

1. Introduction

Lobane diterpenoids are a group possessing a unique prenylated β-elemane carbon framework [1,2], which are seldom discovered in marine natural products. Since the first lobane diterpenoid, fuscol, was isolated from the Caribbean gorgonian coral in 1978 [3], no more than 20 lobane diterpenoids have been discovered in the last twenty years [4,5,6,7,8,9]. Nevertheless, these lobane-type diterpenoids show a wide range of biological activities such as antibacterial [10], cytotoxic [11], and anti-inflammatory activity [9], displaying impressive value worthy of further investigation.

The soft corals of the genus Lobophytum (family Alcyoniidae) are well known as a rich source of lobane diterpenoids [4,5,6,7,8,9], cembranolides [12,13,14,15], and prenylgermacrane-type diterpenoids [16]. With the aim of seeking new bioactive lobane diterpenoids, our continuing investigation of the soft coral Lobophytum catalai collected from Yagong Island led to the isolation of seven new lobane diterpenoids. Considering that there have been no reports on lobane-based diterpenoids from the soft coral Lobophytum catalai, these new compounds, 1–7, were named lobocatalens A–G (Figure 1). Among them, lobocatalen A (1) is a new lobane diterpenoid with an unusual ether linkage between C-14 and C-18. In addition, compound 7 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity in the zebrafish models and moderate cytotoxic activity against the K562 human cancer cell line. Moreover, the isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activity of these isolated compounds are reported.

2. Results

Lobocatalen A (1) was isolated as a colorless oil. The HRESIMS experiment exhibited a pseudo-molecular ion peak at m/z 303.2320 [M + H]⁺, consistent with the molecular formula of C₂₀H₃₀O₂, requiring six degrees of unsaturation. The clear IR absorption at 3079 and 1635 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 193 (log ε 1.65) nm indicated the presence of a double-bond group. The 1D NMR data (

Table 1. ¹H NMR data of lobocatalens A–G (1–7) (CDCl₃).

No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	δH a (J in Hz)	δH b (J in Hz)	δH b (J in Hz)	δH b (J in Hz)	δH a (J in Hz)	δH a (J in Hz)	δH b (J in Hz)
1
2	1.99, dd (4.0,12.4)	2.02, m	2.07, dd (3,12.6)	2.01, m	2.01, m	2.12, dd (3.5,12.5)	2.01, dd (4.5,16.5)
3a	1.57, m	1.60, m	1.61, m	1.52, m	1.57, m	1.78, m	1.60, m
3b	1.49, m	1.52, m	1.50, m	1.64, m	1.59, m	1.33, m	1.72, m
4	1.92, m	2.08, m	2.47, m	2.05, m	1.93, m	2.86, m	2.62, m
5a	1.61, m	1.63, m	1.54, m	1.60, m	1.47, m	1.42, m	1.66, m
5b	1.39, m	1.47, m		1.51, m	1.63, m	1.61, m	1.75, m
6a	1.44, m	1.43, m	1.52, m	1.49, m	1.49, m	1.47, m	1.50, m
6b			1.44, m
7	0.99, s	1.00, s	1.01, s	1.01, s	1.01, s	1.03, s	1.01, s
8	5.80, dd (10.4,17.6)	5.80, dd (10.8,18)	5.80, dd (10.2,18)	5.81, dd (10.5,17.5)	5.82, dd (10.4,17.6)	5.84, m	5.81, dd (11.5,18)
9a	4.91, d (3.6)	4.91, d (3.2)	4.91, d (4.2)	4.93, d (3.0)	4.93, d (4.4)	4.94, m	4.94, m
9b	4.87, s	4.88, s	4.89, s	4.90, d (2.5)	4.89, s		4.90, m
10
11a	4.81, s	4.81, s	4.57, s	4.84, s	4.82, s	4.84, s	4.84, s
11b	4.57, s	4.57, s	4.80, s	4.59, s	4.59, s	4.61, s	4.61, s
12	1.69, s	1.70, s	1.69, s	1.71, s	1.71, s	1.73, s	1.71, s
13
14a	5.36, s	5.48, s	7.27, s	2.17, s	4.84, s	1.90, s	6.34, d (18.0)
14b					4.69, s
15	5.28, m	5.86, m		6.04, s	2.37, m	5.97, d (11.6)	6.80, m
16a	2.62, d (18.0)	1.97, m	2.45, dd (3,16.8)		2.71, m	7.50, m	5.27, m
16b	2.13, d (4.4,18.4)	2.12, m	2.65, dd (15.6,16.8)
17	4.19, d (4.8)	3.78, dd (3.6,11.2)	4.11, dd (3.0,15.0)	2.63, s		6.11, dd (4.05,15.4)
18							1.26, s
19	1.29, s	1.27, s	1.31, s	1.26, s	1.40, s	2.29, s	1.23, s
20	1.36, s	1.23, s	1.24, s	1.26, s	1.40, s
21							2.15, s

^a Spectra recorded at 500 MHz. ^b Spectra recorded at 600 MHz.

and

Table 2. ¹³C NMR data of lobocatalens A–G (1–7) (CDCl₃) ^c.

No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
	δC d	δC e	δC e	δC d	δC d	δC d	δC d
1	39.8, C	39.9, C	39.8, C	39.8, C	40.0, C	39.5, C	39.8, C
2	52.7, CH	52.8, CH	52.8, CH	52.6, CH	52.9, CH	52.3, CH	52.1, CH
3	32.8, CH2	34.3, CH2	34.3, CH2	32.4, CH2	33.4, CH2	32.0, CH2	29.5, CH2
4	42.3, CH	40.7, CH	34.72, CH	49.4, CH	45.0, CH	41.2, CH	49.6, CH
5	26.4, CH2	26.7, CH2	26.6, CH2	26.4, CH2	27.4, CH2	26.2, CH2	24.0, CH2
6	39.8, CH2	39.8, CH2	40.0, CH2	39.7, CH2	40.1, CH2	39.7, CH2	39.2, CH2
7	16.8, CH3	16.7, CH3	16.7, CH3	16.8, CH3	16.8, CH3	16.7, CH3	16.6, CH3
8	150.3, CH	150.2, CH	150.3, CH	149.8, CH	150.3, CH	150.0, CH	149.8, CH
9	110.1, CH2	110.1, CH2	110.1, CH2	110.4, CH2	110.1, CH2	110.3, CH2	110.5, CH2
10	147.5, C	147.6, C	147.5, C	147.3, C	147.7, C	147.3, C	147.0, C
11	112.4, CH2	112.4, CH2	112.3, CH2	112.6, CH2	112.4, CH2	112.5, CH2	112.9, CH2
12	24.9, CH3	25.0, CH3	25.0, CH3	25.0, CH3	24.9, CH3	25.1, CH3	24.9, CH3
13	146.3, C	137.5, C	122.9, C	164.4, C	153.2, C	155.5, C	202.0, C
14	99.2, CH	101.0, CH	158.8, CH	18.5, CH3	107.6, CH2	21.1, CH3	130.7, CH
15	115.7, CH	124.6, CH	192.3, C	122.5, CH	28.4, CH2	124.2, CH	139.5, CH
16	28.0, CH2	25.6, CH2	37.3, CH2	203.0, C	34.4, CH2	138.2, CH	79.2, CH
17	80.1, CH	73.1, CH	84.8, CH	54.4, CH2	214.1, C	128.4, CH	72.3, C
18	81.3, C	72.3, C	71.4, C	70.1, C	76.4, C	199.0, C	26.4, CH3
19	29.9, CH3	26.4, CH3	26.0, CH3	29.6, CH3	26.8, CH3	28.3, CH3	25.6, CH3
20	24.0, CH3	23.5, CH3	24.6, CH3	29.6, CH3	26.8, CH3		170.1, C
21							21.2, CH3

^c The assignments were based on HMQC and HMBC spectra. ^d Spectra recorded at 125 MHz. ^e Spectra recorded at 150 MHz.

) revealed the presence of a monosubstituted terminal double bond (C-9 (δ_C 110.1, CH₂) and C-8 (δ_C 150.3, CH); H₂-9 (δ_H 4.91, d; δ_H 4.87, s) and H-8 (δ_H 5.80, dd)), a disubstituted terminal olefinic bond (C-11 (δ_C 112.4, CH₂), C-10 (δ_C 147.5, CH), and C-12 (δ_C 24.9, CH₃); H₂-11 (δ_H 4.81, s; δ_H 4.57, s) and H₃-12 (δ_H 1.69, s)), a ring-junction methyl (C-7 (δ_C 16.8, CH₃); H₃-7 (δ_H 0.99, s)), and a ring-junction methine (C-2 (δ_C 52.7, CH); H-2 (δ_H 1.99, dd)), which are the characteristic signals of the β-element segment of lobane diterpenoids [4,6,7]. This deduction was then proven by the ¹H-¹H COSY correlations from H-8 to H-9, and from H-2 to H-6, along with the HMBC correlations from H₃-7 to C-1, C-2, C-6, and C-8, from H₃-12 to C-2, C-10, and C-11, and from H₂-15 to C-4 and C-14 (Figure 2).

The remaining two methyls (sp³-hybridized), methylene (sp³-hybridized), three methines (one olefinic and two oxygenated), and two non-protonated carbons (one oxygenated and one olefinic) are related to the side chain of lobane diterpenoids. Based on the above data, a six-membered ether ring was established based on the ¹H-¹H COSY correlations from H-15 to H-17, and the HMBC correlations from H₂-16 to C-13, and from H-14 (δ_H 5.36, s) to C-17 (δ_C 80.1) (Figure 2). The above data accounted for five degrees of unsaturation; thus, the remaining degree was designated as a one-ring system. This deduction was further proven by the HMBC correlations from H-14 to C-18, and from H₃-20 to C-17, C-18 (δ_C 81.2), and C-19, combined with the significant downfield shifts observed for C-14 (δ_C 99.2), C-17 (δ_C 80.1), and C-18 (δ_C 81.2). Thus, a new lobane diterpenoid (1) with an unusual ether linkage between C-14 and C-18 was established (Figure 2).

In the NOESY spectrum of 1 (Figure 3), the clear correlations of H-3a (δ_H 1.57)/H-2, H-3a (δ_H 1.57)/H-4, H-3b (δ_H 1.49)/H₃-7, H₃-7/H₃-12, and H-2/H-8 indicated the β-orientation of H-2 and H-4, and the α-orientation of H₃-7. This deduction was further proven through a comparison of the chemical shifts with previously reported lobane-type diterpenoids [4,5,6,7]. The orientations of C-14 and C-17 were defined as 14R* and 17R* in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S2) [17]. Finally, the absolute configurations of 1 were defined as 1R, 2R, 4S, 14R, and 17R in the TDDFT-ECD calculations (Figure 4).

Lobocatalen B (2) was obtained as a colorless oil. The molecular formula of 2 was determined to be C₂₀H₃₂O₃ based on its HRESIMS ion peak at m/z 338.2685 [M + NH₄]⁺. The IR absorption at 3080 and 1635 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 193 (log ε 0.38) nm indicated the presence of a double-bond group. Additionally, the IR absorption at 3410 cm⁻¹ indicated the presence of a hydroxy group. The 1D NMR data of 2 (Table 1 and Table 2) were similar to those of lobatriene [18], a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from an Okinawan soft coral of the genus Sinularia flexibilis. The only difference between them is that one hydrogen atom of methylene at C-14 in lobatriene is replaced by a hydroxy group in 2. The key HMBC correlations (Figure 2) from H-14 (δ_H 5.48) to C-13 and C-17 and the significant downfield chemical shifts of C-14 (δ_C 101.1) also supported the change in functional groups. Thus, the planar structure of 2 was constructed (Figure 2). Through a comparison with the NMR data of previously reported lobane-type diterpenoids for which the cyclohexane systems all have the same stereochemistry of 1R*, 2R*, and 4S* [4,5,6,7], the relative configurations of C-1, C-2, and C-4 of 2 were the same as those reported for lobane-type diterpenoids. The NOESY correlations (Figure 3) of H-3a (δ_H 1.60)/H-2, H-4/H-3a, H-3b (δ_H 1.52)/H₃-7, H₃-7/H₃-12, and H-2/H-8 further confirmed this deduction. The optical rotation of 2 is [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −40.1, which is similar to that of 1 ([α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −30.1). Because of the homologous structures, the similar optical rotation data may imply the same relative configuration. The relative configurations of all the asymmetric centers in 2 were established in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S3). The absolute configurations were further determined as 1R, 2R, 4S, 14R, and 17R in the TDDFT-ECD calculations (Figure 4).

Lobocatalen C (3), a colorless oil, possesses a molecular formula of C₂₀H₃₀O₃ on the basis of its HREIMS ion peak at m/z 319.2265 [M + H]⁺, requiring six degrees of unsaturation. The IR absorption at 1664 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 273 (log ε 0.12) nm indicated the presence of an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. The 1D NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) of compound 3 resembled those of lobatrienolide [19], a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from an Okinawan soft coral of the genus Sinularia flexibilis. In fact, compound 3 has the same functional groups as lobatrienolide, except for the migration of the double bonds at C-13 and C-15 in lobatrienolide to C-13 and C-14 in 3, and that of the carbonyl group at the C-14 position in lobatrienolide to C-15 in 3. This deduction was proven by the key HMBC correlations (Figure 2) from H-14 to C-4, C-13, C-15 (δ_C 192.3), and C-17 (δ_C 84.8), and from H-16 to C-15. The 1R*, 2R*, and 4S* configurations of the β-elemene ring system, which were the same as those of the co-isolates, were determined based on the NOESY correlations (Figure 3) of H-2/H-4, H-2/H-3a (δ_H 1.61), H-7/H-3b (δ_H 1.50), H₃-7/H₃-12 (δ_H 1.69), and H-2/H-8, along with the similar chemical shifts of the β-elemene ring system compared with the co-isolates. The relative configuration of C-17 was deduced as R* in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S4). Finally, the absolute configurations of 3 were defined as 1R, 2R, 4S, and 17R in the TDDFT-ECD calculations (Figure 4).

Lobocatalen D (4) was isolated as a colorless oil. Its molecular formula, C₂₀H₃₂O₂, was established based on its HRESIMS ion peak at m/z 305.2475 [M + H]⁺. The IR absorption at 1631 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 271 (log ε 0.53) nm indicated the presence of an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. The 1D NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) of 4 resembled those of loba-8,10,13(15)-triene-17,18-diol [20], a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from a soft coral of the genus Lobophytum. In fact, the structure of 4 is truly similar to that of loba-8,10,13(15)-triene-17,18-diol. The difference between them is that the 17-OH in loba-8,10,13(15)-triene-17,18-diol is replaced by one hydrogen atom of methylene in 4, and there is a carbonyl group at C-16 in 4 instead of a methylene as in the known compound. Based on the HMBC correlations from H₃-14 to C-4, C-13, and C-15, from H-15 to C-16 (δ_C 203.0), from H-17 to C-16, and from H₃-20 to C-17 (δ_C 54.4), C-18 (δ_C 70.1), and C-19, this deduction was proven (Figure 2).

The relative configurations of 4 were determined through an analysis of its NOESY spectrum (Figure 3). The NOESY correlations of H-3a (δ_H 1.52)/H-4 and H₃-7/H-3b (δ_H 1.64) indicated the β-orientation of H-4, and the α-orientation of H₃-7. The E geometry of the Δ¹³ double bonds was established based on the NOESY correlations of H-15/H-4. Through a comparison of the NMR data with those of previously reported (-)-β-elemene-type diterpenoids and the co-isolates, the orientation of H-2 was found to be β. Then, the 1R*, 2R*, and 4S* configurations of the β-elemene ring system of 4 were further proven in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S5). Finally, the absolute configurations of 4 were unambiguously determined in the TDDFT-ECD calculations as 1R, 2R, and 4S (Figure 4).

Lobocatalen E (5) has a molecular formula of C₂₀H₃₂O₂, as determined by its HRESIMS ion peak at m/z 305.2469 [M + H]⁺, suggesting five degrees of unsaturation. The IR absorption at 1711 cm⁻¹ indicated the presence of a carbonyl group. Analysis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra (Table 1 and Table 2) indicated that 5 has a similar functional group to lobovarol G [4], a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from the soft coral Lobophytum varium. The only difference is that the 17-OH in lobovarol G is oxidized to a ketonic group in 5. Furthermore, the HMBC correlations from H-16 to C-17 (δ_C 214.1) and from H₃-20 to C-17, C-18 (δ_C 76.4), and C-19 and the ¹H-¹H COSY correlations from H-15 to H-16 confirmed this variation in the functional groups (Figure 2). The NOESY correlations (Figure 3) of H₃-7/H-12 (δ_H 1.71) and H-2/H-8, along with the similar NMR data compared with the co-isolates, indicated the 1R* and 2R* configurations of the β-elemene ring system. Then, the ¹³C NMR chemical shift calculation in the DP4⁺ calculations clearly indicated that the relative configuration of C-4 is S*. Hence, the absolute configurations were confirmed as 1R, 2R, and 4S (Supplementary Materials, Figure S6) in the following TDDFT-ECD calculations.

Lobocatalen F (6) was isolated as a colorless oil. The HRESIMS ion peak at m/z 273.2213 [M + H]⁺ of 6 indicated that its molecular formula is C₁₉H₂₈O, requiring six degrees of unsaturation. The IR absorption at 1706 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 287 (log ε 0.18) nm indicated the presence of an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. A survey of the literature revealed that the 1D NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) of compound 6 were similar to those of 3, 5-heptadien-2-one [21], a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from the soft coral Lobophytum microlobulatum from Havellock Island. The 2D NMR of 6 revealed that the planar structure of 6 is identical to that of 3, 5-heptadien-2-one, which suggested that 6 is a stereoisomer of 3, 5-heptadien-2-one. The same relative configurations of the β-elemene ring system were established in the NOESY experiment (Figure 3) of H-7/H-3a (δ_H 1.78), H-2/H-3b (δ_H 1.33), H-4/H-3b (δ_H 1.33), and H-2/H-4. The geometry of the Δ¹⁶ double bonds was designated as an E-configuration based on the large coupling constants (J_16,17 = 15.4 Hz). The NOESY correlations of H-15/H₃-14, along with the downfield chemical shift of C-19 (δ_C 21.1) [22], designated the Z-configuration of the Δ¹³ double bonds, revealing the only difference between 3, 5-heptadien-2-one and 6. Then, the 1R*, 2R*, and 4S* configurations of the β-elemene ring system of 6 were further proven in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S7). Finally, the absolute configurations of 6 were unambiguously determined as 1R, 2R, and 4S in the TDDFT-ECD calculations (Figure 4).

Lobocatalen G (7), a colorless oil, possesses the molecular formula C₂₁H₃₂O₄, which was established based on the HRESIMS ion peak at m/z 371.2192 [M + Na]⁺. The IR absorption at 1700 cm⁻¹ together with the UV spectrum at λmax = 270 (log ε 0.03) nm indicated the presence of an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl group. The 1D NMR data (Table 1 and Table 2) of 7 closely resembled those of (1R*,2R*,4S*,15E)-loba-8,10, 13(14),15(16)-tetraen-17,18-diol-17-acetate, a known lobane diterpenoid isolated from the Bowden Reef soft coral Sinularia sp. [8]. In fact, the structure of 7 is truly similar to that of the known compound, with the exception that the 1,1-disubstituted double bond at C-13 in the known compound is replaced by a carbonyl group in 7. This deduction was proven by the ¹H-¹H COSY correlations from H-14 to H-16 and the HMBC correlations from H-14 to C-13 (δ_C 202.0) (Figure 3). Due to the absent HMBC correlations, the connection between C-4 and C-13 was established based on the molecular degrees of unsaturation.

In the NOESY experiment (Figure 3), the correlations of H-2/H-4, H-7/H-3a (δ_H 1.60), and H-4/H-3b (δ_H 1.72) established the 1R*, 2R*, and 4S* configurations of the β-elemene ring system. Moreover, the large coupling constants (J_14,15 = 18.0 Hz) established the E geometry of the Δ¹⁴ double bonds. In the relative configuration of C-16 in 7, the chiral center far away from the β-elemene ring system was difficult to assign in the NOESY experiment. Then, through the ¹³C NMR chemical shift calculation in the DP4⁺ calculations (Supplementary Materials, Figure S8), the relative configuration of C-16 in 7 was deduced as 16S*. Finally, the absolute configurations of 7 were defined as 1R, 2R, 4S, and 16S in the TDDFT-ECD calculations (Figure 4).

On account of the fact that research on the anti-inflammatory activity of lobane diterpenoids in zebrafish models has not been reported up to now, we attempted to identify lobane diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activity in zebrafish models. The anti-inflammatory effect of compounds 1–7 was assessed in CuSO₄-induced transgenic fluorescent zebrafish. CuSO₄ can produce an intense acute inflammatory response in the neuromasts and mechanosensorial cells in the lateral line of zebrafish, stimulating the infiltration of macrophages [22,23]. Thus, the number of macrophages surrounding the neuromasts in zebrafish can be observed and counted under a fluorescence microscope. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory activity of these lobane diterpenoids can be evaluated. As shown in Figure 5, compound 7 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity by alleviating migration and decreasing the number of macrophages surrounding the neuromasts in CuSO₄-induced transgenic fluorescent zebrafish. Meanwhile, the other compounds showed no anti-inflammatory activity.

Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of these isolated compounds (1–7) was evaluated against the human leukemia K562, normal human hepatocyte L-02, human pancreatic cancer ASPC-1, and human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The results (

Table 3. Cytotoxic activity (IC₅₀, μM) of compounds 1–7.

Compounds	Cell Line
	K562	L-02	ASPC-1	MDA-MB-231
1	>30	>30	NT a	>30
2	>30	>30	NT a	>30
3	>30	>30	>30	>30
4	>30	>30	>30	>30
5	>30	NT a	NT a	NT a
6	NT a	>30	NT a	NT a
7	27.96	>30	>30	>30
doxorubicin b	<1	<1	<1	<1

^a NT: not tested. ^b Positive control.

) demonstrated that compound 7 exhibited modest cytotoxicity against the K562 cell line, with an IC₅₀ value of 27.96 μM.

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Experimental Procedures

Optical rotations were measured using a Jasco P-1020 digital polarimeter (Jasco, Tokyo, Japan). The UV spectra were recorded using a Beckman DU640 spectrophotometer (Beckman Ltd., Shanghai, China). The CD spectra were obtained using a Jasco J-810 spectropolarimeter (Jasco, Tokyo, Japan). The NMR spectra were measured using Agilent 500 MHz (Agilent, Beijing, China) and JEOL JNMECP 600 spectrometers (JEOL, Beijing, China). The 7.26 ppm and 77.16 ppm resonances of CDCl₃ were used as internal references for the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, respectively. The HRESIMS spectra were measured using Micromass Q-Tof Ultima GLOBAL GAA076LC mass spectrometers (Autospec-Ultima-TOF, Waters, Shanghai, China). Semi-preparative HPLC was performed using a Waters 1525 pump (Waters, Singapore) equipped with a 2998 photodiode array detector and a YMC C18 column (YMC, 10 × 250 mm, 5 μm). Silica gel (200–300 mesh, 300–400 mesh, and silica gel H, Qingdao Marine Chemical Factory, Qingdao, China) was used for column chromatography.

3.2. Animal Material

The soft coral Lobophytum catalai was collected from Xisha Island (YaGong Island) in the South China Sea in 2018 and frozen immediately after collection. The specimen was identified by Ping-Jyun Sung, at the Institute of Marine Biotechnology, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Pingtung 944, Taiwan. The voucher specimen (No. xs-18-yg-113) was deposited at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ocean University of China, People’s Republic of China.

3.3. Extraction and Isolation

A frozen specimen of Lobophytum catalai (12.0 kg, wet weight) was homogenized and then exhaustively extracted with CH₃OH six times (5 days each time) at room temperature. The combined solutions were concentrated in vacuo and subsequently desalted by redissolving with ethyl acetate to yield a residue (298.0 g). The crude extract was subjected to silica gel vacuum column chromatography eluted with a gradient of petroleum/ethyl acetate (200:1–1:1, v/v) and subsequently eluted with a gradient of CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (20:1–1:1, v/v) to obtain fourteen fractions (Frs.1–Frs.14). Each fraction was detected via TLC. Frs.3 was subjected to silica gel vacuum column chromatography (petroleum/ethyl acetate, from 20:1 to 1:1, v/v) to obtain eight subfractions, Frs.3.1–Frs.3.8. Frs.3.4 was separated via semi-preparative HPLC (ODS, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm; MeOH/H₂O, 80:20, v/v; 2.0 mL/min) to afford 1 (2.6 mg, t_R = 82 min). Frs.3.5 was separated via semi-preparative HPLC (ODS, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm; CH₃CN/H₂O, 60:40, v/v; 2.0 mL/min) to afford 6 (3.2 mg, t_R = 70 min). Frs.3.6 was separated via semi-preparative HPLC (ODS, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm; CH₃CN/H₂O, 50:50, v/v; 2.0 mL/min) to afford 5 (1.8 mg, t_R = 110 min). Frs.4 was subjected to silica gel vacuum column chromatography (petroleum/ethyl acetate, 20:1) to obtain six subfractions, Frs.4.1–Frs.4.6. Frs.4.6 was separated via semi-preparative HPLC (ODS, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm; CH₃CN/H₂O, 65:35, v/v; 2 mL/min) to afford 2 (1.3 mg, t_R = 70 min) and 3 (2.4 mg, t_R = 90 min). Frs.5 was subjected to silica gel vacuum column chromatography (petroleum/ ethyl acetate, from 20:1 to 1:1, v/v) to obtain two subfractions, Frs.6.1–Frs.6.2. Frs.6.1 was separated via semi-preparative HPLC (ODS, 5 µm, 250 × 10 mm; MeOH/H₂O, 65:35, v/v; 2.0 mL/min) to afford 4 (1.8 mg, t_R = 80 min) and 7 (0.9 mg, t_R = 121 min).

Lobocatalen A (1): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −30.3 (c 1.0, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε202 −58.2; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 193 (1.65) nm; IR νmax = 3424, 2362, 1635, 1382 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 303.2320 [M + H]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₀H₃₁O₂⁺, 303.2319). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen B (2): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −40.1 (c 1.0, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε197 −10.3; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 193 (0.38) nm; IR νmax = 3410, 2973, 2931, 2360, 1635 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 338.2685 [M + NH₄]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₀H₃₆O₃N⁺, 338.2685). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen C (3): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −40.3 (c 1.0, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε192 +11, Δε203 −6.9, Δε265 −5.1, Δε302 +4.2; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 193 (0.48), 273 (0.12) nm; IR νmax = 3410, 2972, 2928, 2361, 1664, 1636 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 319.2265 [M + H]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₀H₃₁O₃⁺, 319.2268). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen D (4): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ +50.3 (c 0.5, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε190 +13.1, Δε205 −12.2, Δε248 −18.8; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 201 (1.73) nm, 224 (1.63), 271 (0.53) nm; IR νmax = 3431, 2926, 2361, 1631 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 305.2475 [M + H]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₀H₃₃O₂⁺, 305.2475). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen E (5): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ +30. 7 (c 1.0, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε193 +46.6; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 195 (2.03) nm; IR νmax = 3431, 2928, 2361, 1711, 1634 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 305.2469 [M + H]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₀H₃₃O₂⁺, 305.2475). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen F (6): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −10.4 (c 1.0, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε199 +4.9, Δε217 +6.7, Δε288 −7.9; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 195(1.37), 222(0.66), 287(0.18) nm; IR νmax = 3431, 2927, 2360, 1706, 1558 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 273.2211 [M + H]⁺ (calcd. for C₁₉H₂₉O₁⁺, 273.2213). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

Lobocatalen G (7): colorless oil; [α]${}_{\mathrm{D}}^{25}$ −30. 5 (c 0.5, MeOH); ECD (c 0.50, MeOH) = Δε191 +10.3, Δε200 −7.6, Δε216 +6.8, Δε238 −11.1; UV (MeOH) λmax (log ε) = 193 (0.09) nm, 227 (0.12), 270(0.03) nm; IR νmax = 2924, 2854, 1717, 1650, 1540 cm⁻¹; HRESIMS m/z 371.2192 [M + Na]⁺ (calcd. for C₂₁H₃₂O₄Na⁺, 371.2193). For ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR data, see Table 1 and Table 2.

3.4. Anti-Inflammatory Activity Assay

Healthy macrophage fluorescent transgenic zebrafish (Tg: zlyz-EGFP) were provided by the Biology Institute of Shandong Academy of Science (Jinan, China). The zebrafish maintenance and anti-inflammation assay were carried out as previously described [24]. Each zebrafish larva was photographed using a fluorescence microscope (AXIO, Zom.V16), and the number of macrophages around the nerve mound was calculated using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software (Rockville, MD, USA). One-way analysis of variance was conducted using GraphPad Prism 7.00 software (San Diego, CA, USA). Lobocatalens A–G (1–7) were tested for anti-inflammatory activities in the zebrafish models. Three dpf (days post-fertilization), healthy macrophage fluorescent transgenic zebrafish were used as animal models to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of compounds 1–7.

3.5. Cytotoxicity Activity Assay

The MTT method was used to evaluate cytotoxicity against the K562 (human leukemia) cell line, and the SRB method was used to evaluate cytotoxicity against the L-02 (normal human hepatocytes), ASPC-1 (human pancreatic cancer), and MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer) cell lines. As a positive control, Adriamycin (doxorubicin) was used.

4. Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, less than twenty new lobane diterpenoids have been discovered in the last two decades. In our continuing chemical investigation of the Xisha soft coral Lobophytum catalai, seven new lobane diterpenoids, named lobocatalens A–G (1–7), were isolated, enriching the chemical diversity of lobane diterpenoids. Among them, lobocatalen A (1) is a new lobane diterpenoid with an unusual ether linkage between C-14 and C-18. Moreover, extensive spectroscopic data analyses, spectral comparisons, quantum chemical calculations, and TDDFT-ECD calculations were combined to determine the structures and absolute configurations of 1–7. In the bioassay, only compound 7 showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity at 20 µM in the zebrafish models. This is the first report on the anti-inflammatory activity of lobane diterpenoids in zebrafish. In addition, compound 7 showed modest cytotoxic activity against the K562 human cancer cell line. This research suggests that this species has great potential for further evaluation.