New polyhydroxylated steroids from the marine pulmonate Trimusculus peruvianus

Abstract

11 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. ; Two new sterols, 1-2, unusually hydroxylated at C-21 have been isolated from the marine pulmonate Trimusculus peruvianus. Compound 2 possesses a Δ7-3α,5α,6β-triol nucleus unprecedented in marine organisms. The structure and stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectral studies, particularly NMR and MS spectroscopic data. 1 and 2 are the entire sterol content of the mollusk and both exhibit moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against human colon carcinoma cell lines. ; This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MCYT), project ref: PPQ2002-02494, DGUI of the Canary Islands Government PI2002/044, DID project CSMAR 02/6-2 of the Universidad de Chile, Cooperation Program between CSIC (Spain)-CONICYT (Chile), and DI of the Universidad de Antofagasta. We are grateful to BIOMAR, S.A., for performing the bioassays. A. R. D.-M. acknowledges an I3P grant from the CSIC and E. D. an FPI grant from the MCYT.