THE VALDIVONES, ANTIINFLAMMATORY DITERPENE ESTERS FROM THE SOUTH-AFRICAN SOFT CORAL ALCYONIUM-VALDIVAE

The South African soft coral Alcyonium valdivae contains five diterpen e esters, valdivones A (1) and B (2), the corresponding methoxy ketals (3) and (4), and dihydrovaldivone A (5). Although the producing organ isms are unrelated taxonomically, the valdivones are most closely rela ted to the sarcodictins (e.g. 6) from the stoloniferan coral Sarcodict yon roseum. Valdivones A (1) and B (2) inhibit chemically-induced infl ammation in the mouse ear assay.