Two New Alkaloids from an Indian Species of Zoanthus

Abstract

A new species of Zoanrhur from the Bay of Bengal contains a novel gmup of alkaloids that possess antiinflammatory and analgesic properties.The structures of two new isomeric alkaloids, 28deoxyzoanthenamine (4) and 22-epi-28-deoxyzoanthenmine (5).were elucidated by interpretation of spectral data.Previous studies1.' of an unidentified colonial zoanthid of the genus Zoanrhur, which occurs as dense mats on intertidal rocks along the Visakhapamam coast of India, have resulted in the isolation and identification of three unique alkaloids, zoanthamine (1).manthenamine (2) and wanthamide (3).The alkaloids are of pharmacological interest because they inhibit phorbl mpistate acetate (PMA) induced inflammation of the mouse ear.The structure of wanthamine (1) was devrmined by X-ray analysist and the structures of wanthenamine (2) and zoanthamide (3) were proposed on the basis of interpretation of spectral data.'In this paper we describe two new isomeric Zoonrkur alkaloids.