Coscinolactams A and B: new nitrogen-containing sesterterpenoids from the marine sponge Coscinoderma mathewsi exerting anti-inflammatory properties

Investigation of the marine sponge Coscinoderma mathewsi led to the isolation of two novel nitrogen-containing cheilanthane sesterterpenoids, coscinolactams A and B, together with known suvanine. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic measurements including NOE experiments to deduce the stereochemistry. The natural compounds, as well as a semisynthetic derivative, showed moderate anti-inflammatory activity measured as their capability to inhibit PGE2 and NO production. The suvanine aldehyde derivative 4 inhibited inducible nitric oxide protein expression with an IC50 value of 7.3 μM.