Bioactive Natural Products from Tropical Marine Sponges

Abstract

Marine sponges are proving to be productive sources of many interesting bioactive polyketides, including a series of pentacyclic quinone and hydroquonone compounds. During the course of our search for biologically active constituents from tropical marine sponges, we encountered a sponge of the genus Xestospongia from Federated States of Micronesia, and a crude extract from the sponge exhibited moderate growth inhibition against several human tumor cell lines. Chemical investigations of Xestospongia have resulted in the isolation of halenaquinone derivatives. The isolation, structure elucidation and biological activities of several natural products will be discussed. tropical marine sponges, we encountered a sponge of the genus Xestospongia from Federated States of Micronesia, and a crude extract from the sponge exhibited moderate growth inhibition against several human tumor cell lines. Chemical investigations of Xestospongia have resulted in the isolation of halenaquinone derivatives. The isolation, structure elucidation and biological activities of several natural products will be discussed.