Chemical Constituents and Bioactivities of Gorgonian Corals

Gorgonian corals are considered as a rich source of secondary metabolites with unique structural features and biological activities. A large number of novel metabolites with potent pharmacological properties have been isolated from gorgonian corals. Some of these compounds have exhibited to possess new mechanisms of action, which hold great promises as potential lead compounds in future marine drug development. This review aims to provide an overview of chemical constituents and biological activities of gorgonian corals from 2015 to December, 2019. Some 145 metabolites, including 16 sesquiterpenoids, 62 diterpenoids, 62 steroids and 5 alkaloids were reported during this period and their pharmacological activities were investigated. Moreover, the peculiar structure and potential medicinal value of these new compounds are discussed in this review.