Anticonvulsant activity of a novel diterpene isolated from a soft coral of the genus Lobophytum.

Dichloromethane extraction of a soft coral of the genus Lobophytum yielded a series of analogous novel diterpenes. One of these compounds produced anticonvulsant activity in mice. The activity of this compound, its biologically inactive analogues and some synthetic derivatives have been investigated. While the anticonvulsant activity possessed by a natural product is of interest, the potency of the compounds studied does not compare favourably with clinically used anticonvulsant drugs.