Exploring Chemical Diversity of Phorbas Sponges as a Source of Novel Lead Compounds in Drug Discovery

Abstract

Porifera, commonly referred to as marine sponges, are acknowledged as major producers of marine natural products (MNPs). Sponges of the genus Phorbas have attracted much attention over the years. They are widespread in all continents, and several structurally unique compounds have been identified from this species. Terpenes, mainly sesterterpenoids, are the major secondary metabolites isolated from Phorbas species, even though several alkaloids and steroids have also been reported. Many of these compounds have presented interesting biological activities. Particularly, Phorbas sponges have been demonstrated to be a source of cytotoxic metabolites. In addition, MNPs exhibiting cytostatic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities have been isolated and structurally characterized. This review provides an overview of almost 130 secondary metabolites from Phorbas sponges and their biological activities, and it covers the literature since the first study published in 1993 until November 2021, including approximately 60 records. The synthetic routes to the most interesting compounds are briefly outlined.

Regioselective Deacetylation of Peracetylated Deoxy-C-glycopyranosides by Boron Trichloride (BCl3)

“…The structure of the product from BCl 3 -mediated regioselective deacetylation is characterized by partially acetylated sugar moiety with one single free OH, which can be further modified to produce carbohydrate derivatives to enrich the chemical diversity for potential biological purposes, such as enhancing drug discovery and providing efficient access to new sugar-derived chemical building blocks . These structures are challenging to access by alternative means.…”

Marine natural products

“…502 Reviews of MNPs from Indonesia and Tonga have focussed predominately upon sponge-derived compounds. 503,504 The chemistry of the sponge family Hymedesmiidae, 505 and the genera Callyspongia, 506 Latrunculia, 507 Petrosia, 508 Phorbas, 509 and Reniera, 510 has been reviewed. Sponge alkaloids, primarily those with cytotoxic activity, that were published between 1987-2020 have been reviewed, 511 as have sponge-derived compounds with antimalarial/antiprotozoal activity.…”

The Tetrahydrofuran Motif in Marine Lipids and Terpenes

“…In 2021, laurokanols A–E ( 76–80 ) and yucatecone ( 81 ) ( Figure 18 ), polyether triterpenes, were isolated from the red alga Laurencia viridis [ 73 ]. Laurokanols have an unprecedented tricyclic core with an [ 6 , 6 ]-spiroketal system. Yucatecone is the first compound of this series with an R configuration at the C14 position.…”

“…They are a large and diverse group of compounds that usually present valuable pharmacological properties. Various reviews summarize the discovery of a high number of these metabolites in recent years from different sources, namely sponges [ 6 , 7 ], fungi [ 8 , 9 , 10 ], and corals [ 11 , 12 ], among others [ 13 , 14 ].…”