The pterocellins, bioactive alkaloids from the marine bryozoan Pterocella vesiculosa

Although comparatively little research has been undertaken into the secondary metabolites of bryozoans as compared with those of other marine invertebrates, bryozoans have proven to be an excellent source of novel and/or biologically active compounds. The majority of bryozoan metabolites isolated to...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phytochemistry reviews 2004-01, Vol.3 (3), p.325-331
Main Authors: Prinsep, M R, Yao, B, Nicholson, B K, Gordon, D P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alkaloids
Ascophorina
Bioactive compounds
Biological activity
Catenicellidae
Cheilostomatida
Invertebrates
Leukemia
Marine invertebrates
Metabolites
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Pterocella
Secondary metabolites
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Although comparatively little research has been undertaken into the secondary metabolites of bryozoans as compared with those of other marine invertebrates, bryozoans have proven to be an excellent source of novel and/or biologically active compounds. The majority of bryozoan metabolites isolated to date have been alkaloids. In our continuing search for bioactive and/or novel compounds from New Zealand marine bryozoans, we undertook an investigation of an extract of Pterocella vesiculosa (order Cheilostomatida, suborder Ascophorina, family Catenicellidae) which possessed activity against P388 murine leukaemia cells. Two alkaloids, pterocellins A–B (1–2) have been isolated from the bryozoan. The biological activity of these alkaloids was examined including their activities in the in vitro 60 cell line panel and in vivo hollow fibre assays at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The isolation and characterisation of further pterocellin analogues is currently in progress and tentative structures for two new members of this series, pterocellins C–D (3–4) are proposed, based on NMR and mass spectral data.
ISSN:1568-7767
1572-980X
DOI:10.1007/s11101-004-6146-2