Cytotoxic ketosteroids from the Red Sea soft coral <i>Dendronephthya</i> sp.

Abstract A marine specimen of the Red Sea soft coral Dendronephthya sp. was extracted with a mixture n -hexane, diethyl ether, and methanol. One new cytotoxic steroid dendronestadione ( 1 ), five known steroids: dendronesterones A-C 2 – 4 dendrotriol 5 cholesterol 6 ) along 4-oxo-pentanoic acid 7 polyhydroxy alkane hexitol 8 were isolated from extract. The chemical structures metabolites elucidated by application several spectroscopic techniques (1D, 2D NMR, IR, UV) mass spectrometry. antiproliferative effect compounds assessed against panel human cancer cell lines including HepG2, HT-29, PC. obtained results indicated that (dendronesterones A–C) exhibited higher than other co-isolated ones. Among all examined dendronesterones, dendronesterone C showed highest IC 50 values 19.1 ± 1.81, 32.4 2.84, 7.8 0.80 µM three cells under investigation. Interestingly, ketosteroids potent effects prostate cells. These findings highlight role as an agent in this study.