Effects of temperature on polyunsaturation in cytostatic lipids of Haslea ostrearia

Unusual chemicals produced by the 'blue oyster' diatom, Haslea ostrearia, i nclude the water-soluble blue pigment marennine and numerous polyunsaturate d sesterterpene oils or haslenes. Aqueous extracts of the alga exhibit in v itro and in vivo activities against human lung cancer cells and anti-HIV ef fects. Here we report that three haslenes also demonstrate in vitro cytosta tic action against a human lung cancer cell line. The most active haslene i s the most unsaturated and unsaturation in the haslenes increases with incr easing algal growth temperature. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.