Polyoxygenated Steroids from a Formosan Soft Coral Sinularia facile

Five new polyoxygenated steroids 1-5 have been isolated from a Formosan soft coral Sinularia facile. The structures of new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and cytotoxic activity of 1-5 against the proliferation of a limited panel of cancer cell lines was measured. Metabolite 4 has been shown to exhibit weak cytotoxicity against Hep G2, Hep G3B, MDA-MB-231, and Ca9-22 cancer cell lines. ? 2008 The Chemical Society of Japan.