Norterpene Cyclic Peroxides from the Marine Sponge Diacarnus spinipoculum, Inhibitors of Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1

Bioassay-guided isolation of the extract from the marine sponge Diacarnus spinipoculum showing inhibitory activity against human transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (hTRPA1) resulted in the isolation of 12 norditerpene cyclic peroxides (1–12) and eight norsesterterpene cyclic peroxides (13–20). Among these, 10 (5–7, 11, 12, 16–20) are unprecedented analogs. Compounds with either a hydroxy (5, 11) or a methoxy (6, 12) group attached to the cyclohexanone moiety were obtained as epimeric mixtures at C-11, while compounds 4, 6, 10, and 12 are likely the artifacts of isolation. The absolute configurations of the new compounds were established based on an NMR-based empirical method and comparison of specific rotation values. Mosher ester analysis revealed the absolute configurations of compounds 17–20. The inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds against hTRPA1 varied significantly depending on their structures, with the norsesterterpenoid 19 displaying the most potent activity (IC₅₀ 2.0 μM).