A new sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone from the marine sponge Dysidea arenaria

Abstract

Detailed chemical investigation of the South China sponge Dysidea arenaria resulted in the isolation of a new sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone, 19-hydroxy-polyfibrospongol B (1), along with five known compounds: polyfibrospongol B (2), isosemnonorthoquinone (3), ilimaquinone (4), smenospongine (5) and smenotronic acid (6). The structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro anti-HIV activity on HIV-1 RT was evaluated. Compounds 3-6 displayed moderate inhibitory activity, with IC 50 values of 239.7, 16.4, 176.1, and 130.4 μM, respectively, while 1 and 2 were found to be inactive against the same biological target. © 2008 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International.