A new briarane-type diterpenoid from the South China Sea gorgonian Junceella fragilis

The chemical constituents of gorgonian Junceella fragilis Ridley, collected from Ximao Island, the South China Sea, were investigated. A new briarane-type diterpenoid, named fragilide Y (1), together with five known compounds (2-6), namely fragilide D (2), cholesterol (3), ergosterol peroxide (4), 2'-deoxythymidine (5) and cis-thyminenol (6), were isolated from the acetone extract of J. fragilis. The structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis, while the known compounds were identified by comparison with the reported data. In bioassay, none of these compounds displayed obvious anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects.