Cytotoxic compounds from Laurencia pacifica

Background The current investigation sought to explore the nature of the secondary metabolites in the algae, Laurencia pacifica . Results This report details the first isolation of the sesquiterpenes isoaplysin ( 1 ), isolaurenisol ( 2 ), debromoisolaurinterol ( 3 ), debromoaplysinol ( 4 ), laur-11-en-10-ol ( 5 ), 10α-hydroxyldebromoepiaplysin ( 6 ), and the previously unknown 10-bromo-3,7,11,11-tetramethylspiro[5.5]undeca-1,7-dien-3-ol ( 7 ) from the algae, Laurencia pacifica . Isoaplysin ( 1 ) and debromoaplysinol ( 4 ) showed promising levels of growth inhibition against a panel cancer-derived cell lines of colon (HT29), glioblastoma (U87, SJ-G2), breast (MCF-7), ovarian (A2780), lung (H460), skin (A431), prostate (Du145), neuroblastoma (BE2-C), pancreas (MIA), murine glioblastoma (SMA) origin with average GI 50 values of 23 and 14 μM. Conclusions Isoaplysin ( 1 ) and debromoaplysinol ( 4 ) were up to fourfold more potent in cancer-derived cell populations than in non-tumor-derived normal cells (MCF10A). These analogues are promising candidates for anticancer drug development. Graphical Abstract