AIM: To study the minor diterpenes from the soft coral Sinularia depressa METHOD: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by various chromatographic techniques, and the chemical structures, including absolute configuration, were established on the basis of detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and by literature comparison with the data of related known compounds. RESULTS: A new casbane-type diterpene, 2-epi-10-hydroxydepressin (1), was isolated and identified. CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new casbane-type diterpene.
Animals ; Anthozoa ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; Hexamethonium ; analysis ; Spectrum Analysis

Atropine (2.5 mg/kg), hexamethonium (1 mg/kg), Trasylol (1,000 u/kg), acetazolamide (100 mg/kg), cortisone (5 mg /kg) or procaine (5 mg/kg) were injected intraperitoneally once a day for 21 days into rats (both sexes) fed a low protein diet. The rats were fasted and sacrificed 24 hr after the last injection. Atropine and cortisone, but not the other agents, cause a significant increase in both pancreatic weight and enzymes. Serum amylase increased markedly in the cortisone group and serum GOT and GPT increased but slightly in the atropine group. Enlargement of the pancreatic acini, cellular hypertrophy and increases of zymogen granules were observed in all the groups except the procaine and normal control group. The hypertrophy of acini was more prominent in the atropine and cortisone groups. None of drugs used could induce decrease or depress the enzyme formation and weight of pancreas. This data indicates that long-term administration of these drugs, particularly atropine, cortisone or even other Ragents may induce preferential formation of pancreatic enzymes to exocrine secretions and consequently may cause enlargement of the pancreatic acini.
Acetazolamide/administration & dosage* ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Amylases/blood ; Animal ; Aprotinin/administration & dosage* ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Atropine/administration & dosage* ; Cortisone/administration & dosage* ; Female ; Hexamethonium Compounds* ; Lipase/blood ; Male ; Organ Weight ; Pancreas/drug effects* ; Pancreas/enzymology ; Procaine/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; Time Factors