Antiproliferative Isoprenoid Derivatives from the Red Sea Alcyonacean .

From the soft coral seven isoprenoid derivatives were isolated, including a new xenicane diterpene, xeniolide O () and a new gorgostane derivative gorgst-3β,5α,6β,11α,20()-pentol-3-monoacetate (), along with three known sesquiterpenes (), a known diterpene (), and a known steroid (). The extensive analyses of the NMR, IR, and MS spectral data led to determination of their chemical structures. Compounds displayed a cytotoxic effect against breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), with IC values ranging between 1.5 ± 0.1-23.2 ± 1.5; 1.8 ± 0.1-30.6 ± 1.1 and 0.9 ± 0.05-12.8 ± 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. Compound showed potent cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, HepG2, and HeLa with IC values = 2.4 ± 0.20, 3.1 ± 0.10 and 0.9 ± 0.05 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds , , and displayed cytotoxic effect against Hela cells with IC values = 12.8 ± 0.50, 6.7 ± 1.00 and 11.5 ± 2.20 μg/mL, respectively. Two DNA binding dyes, acridine orange (AO) and ethidium bromide (EtBr) were used for the detection of viable, apoptotic, and necrotic cells. The early apoptotic cell death was observed in all types of treated cells. The late apoptotic cells were highly present in HepG2 cells. Compounds and induced a high percentage of necrosis towards HepG2 and HeLa cells. The late apoptosis was recorded as a high rate after treatment with on all cancer cells.