Cytotoxic and neurotoxic activities in extracts of marine sponges (Porifera) from southeastern Brazilian coast

This work reports the results of a screening program based on marine sponge extracts from the southeastern Brazilian coast, covering cytotoxic and neu rotoxic activities. Polar and non-polar extracts of 24 sponge species colle cted by scuba diving in rocky shores, from 1996 to 2000, were screened for haemolytic, cytotoxic and neurotoxic activities. Fifty-four percent (13/24) of the sponge extracts tested exhibited from median to high toxicity in at least one of the toxicity bioassays performed. Amphimedon sp, and Arenoscl era brasiliensis Muricy and Ribeiro, 1999 induced haemolysis in mice erythr ocytes at small concentrations. Aaptos sp. and Geodia corticostylifera Hajd u, Muricy, Custodio, Russo and Peixinho, 1992 extracts lysed the sea-urchin eggs, while Axinella aff. corrugata George and Wilson, 1919, Mycale laxiss ima Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864, A. Brasiliensis and Raspailia elegans Bourm-Esnauls, 1973, inhibited mitosis and its development. The extracts o f G. gibberosa Lamarck, 1815 and Stelletta sp. showed specific neurotoxic a ctivity, while G, corticostylifera and A. brasiliensis extracts induced blo ckage of action potential conduction in crustacean nerve, maybe due to thei r lytic properties. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.