Pseudoceratonic Acid and Moloka'iamine Derivatives from the Red Sea Verongiid Sponge Pseudoceratinaarabica

Abstract

During an investigation of the chemistry of the Red Sea Verongiid sponge Pseudoceratina arabica, we discovered a small molecule, pseudoceratonic acid (1), along with the new moloka'iamine derivatives, ceratinines N (2), O (3), and the previously reported compounds moloka'iamine (4), hydroxymoloka'iamine (5) and ceratinamine (6). The structural assignments of 1-6 were accomplished by interpretation of their NMR and HRESIMS spectral data. Pseudoceratonic acid possesses a dibrominated hydrazine-derived functional group not found in any reported chemical compound. Pseudoceratonic acid selectively inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, while ceratinine N selectively inhibited C. albicans. Further, ceratinine N showed potent cytotoxic effects against the triple-negative breast cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and human cervical carcinoma cell lines down to 2.1 µM.