BIOACTIVE METABOLITES FROM MARINE-ALGAE - RECENT RESULTS

The recent literature (1992 - early 1996) on secondary metabolites fro m marine algae has been reviewed and selected results concerning more than one hundred bioactive compounds are reported. The review is speci fically devoted to the seaweeds (Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyt a) and does not include metabolites from microalgae and Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Emphasis has been placed on novel compounds, but s ome recent reports about previously known bioactive metabolites have a lso been reviewed. A variety of bioactive metabolites has recently bee n obtained from marine algae, including terpenoids (among them the hal ogenated mono-and sesquiterpenoids typically produced by red algae), c ompounds of mixed biogenesis and further miscellaneous compounds. The reported activities range from properties of pharmacological interest, i.e. cytotoxicity against tumoral cultured cells, antimicrobial activ ity, antiviral activity, etc., to other activities of ecological or ag ronomical significance, such as antifeedant activity against marine pr edators or insecticidal activity. The review of the recent literature on secondary metabolites from marine algae indicates that the search f or new bioactive metabolites from seaweeds is an active sector of the chemistry of natural products, stimulating the application of sophisti cated physical techniques like two-dimensional NMR as well as intrigui ng syntheses of compounds of biomedical interest.