PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) INHIBITORS FROM MARINE-ALGAE

Twelve out of twenty-nine compounds isolated from benthic marine algae from the phyla Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta have been found to be potent inhibitors of bee venom derived phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (> 50 %) in the muM range. The compounds investigated were from: Bryop sis pennata, Rhipocephalus phoenix, Caulerpa prolifera, C. racemosa, C . bikinensis, Cymopolia barbata, Laurencia ef. palisada, Laurencia sp. , Ochtodes crockeri, Liagora farinosa, Sphaerococcus coronipifolius, P hacelocarpus labillardieri, Dictyota sp., Bifurcaria galapagensis, Sty popodium zonale, Dictyopteris undulata, Stoechospermum marginatum, Dic tyopteris divaricata, Dilophusfasciola and Dilophus sp. This is the fi rst report of bee venom PLA2 inhibition in vitro by pure compounds iso lated from marine algae.