Corals 7.5 Conclusion 197
Part A | 7.5
ously been reported to produce montiporic acids [7.330]
and other cytotoxic diacetylenes [7.327]. Antibacterial activity against 9 bacterial strains was revealed in
crude aqueous extracts from the Hawaiian M. capitata [7.317].
7.3.5 Family Pocilloporidae
Extracts from Pocillopora demicornis exhibited hypotensive activity (LD 50 681 mg kg
1 in mice) [7.288].
The Hawaiian P. meandrina displayed antibacterial activity in crude aqueous extracts against nine strains of
bacteria including coral pathogens [7.317].
7.3.6 Family Oculinidae
From the coral Galaxea fascicularis, a crude mucuslike extract and subsequently its purified component
were found to contain a DNase-like activity. It indiscriminately digested DNA, as well as naked genomic
DNAs isolated from a multiple-drug-resistant murine
leukemia cell line, P388/VCR, and a nontransformed
liver cell line, BL8L. Their apoptotic actions indicate
their potential role in the development of an anticancer
agent [7.331].
7.3.7 Family Helioporidae
Seven diterpenes, helioporins A–G, were isolated from
the blue coral Heliopora coerulea; helioporins A and B
showed antiviral activity against HSV1 and C-G cytotoxicity against P388 [7.332].
7.3.8 Family Pectiniidae
A polyacetylene from Pectinia lactuca exhibited
ichthyotoxicity and inhibited the growth of some bacteria and fungi [7.326].
7.3.9 Family Mussidae
The extracts of Lobophyllia corymbosa showed 100%
anti-implantation activity in female mice as the most
promising activity observed [7.325].
7.4 Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids (MAAs)
Above all, because they are inhabitants of shallow waters exposed to ultraviolet radiation, symbiotic corals
also produce mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA)
that, as UV-absorbing compounds, possess photoprotective properties [7.333]; they also manufacture other
mycosporines referred to as true multipurpose secondary metabolites against detrimental UV effects, in
combination with other functionalities such as prevention of oxidation reactions [7.334]. Palythoa tubereulosa was the initial source of the mycosporinelike amino acids as natural sunscreens [7.335]. The
unique physical and chemical properties of MAAs
as natural sunscreens prompted an investigation of
their use in healthcare applications and in the formulation of cosmetic products [7.336]. As an example, the commercially available synthetic fungicide, clotrimazole (mycosporin) is a chemical analog of naturally occurring mycosporine-like amino
acids [7.337]. MAAs were also separated from
the Acropora formosa, Stylophora pistillata [7.338–
341], Pocillopora damicornis, and Montipora verrucosa [7.342].
Moreover, the microscopic algal symbionts of
corals, referred to as zooxanthellae, and not coral
cells are in some cases the likely source of the secondary metabolites of interest [7.343]. For example,
anti-inflammatory pseudopterosins were shown to be
produced by the endosymbiotic algae [7.344]. Ultimately, it is worth mentioning that antitumor and anticarcinogenic activities have also been reported for the
unique pigment of dinoflagellate symbionts of corals,
namely peridinin and related compounds [7.345]. The
genus Symbiodinium, for instance, a symbiont of the
Okinawan soft coral Clavularia viridis containing
abundant antitumor marine prostanoids (e.g., clavulones), yielded compounds with significant growthinhibitory activity in vitro toward cancer cells (IC 50 of
2:02:8 g mL
1 ) [7.244].
7.5 Conclusion
Table 7.1 summarizes various coral-derived compounds with diverse therapeutic properties, most of
which necessitate further preclinical examinations to be
commercialized. The substances in Table 7.1 account
Part A | 7.5
ously been reported to produce montiporic acids [7.330]
and other cytotoxic diacetylenes [7.327]. Antibacterial activity against 9 bacterial strains was revealed in
crude aqueous extracts from the Hawaiian M. capitata [7.317].
7.3.5 Family Pocilloporidae
Extracts from Pocillopora demicornis exhibited hypotensive activity (LD 50 681 mg kg
1 in mice) [7.288].
The Hawaiian P. meandrina displayed antibacterial activity in crude aqueous extracts against nine strains of
bacteria including coral pathogens [7.317].
7.3.6 Family Oculinidae
From the coral Galaxea fascicularis, a crude mucuslike extract and subsequently its purified component
were found to contain a DNase-like activity. It indiscriminately digested DNA, as well as naked genomic
DNAs isolated from a multiple-drug-resistant murine
leukemia cell line, P388/VCR, and a nontransformed
liver cell line, BL8L. Their apoptotic actions indicate
their potential role in the development of an anticancer
agent [7.331].
7.3.7 Family Helioporidae
Seven diterpenes, helioporins A–G, were isolated from
the blue coral Heliopora coerulea; helioporins A and B
showed antiviral activity against HSV1 and C-G cytotoxicity against P388 [7.332].
7.3.8 Family Pectiniidae
A polyacetylene from Pectinia lactuca exhibited
ichthyotoxicity and inhibited the growth of some bacteria and fungi [7.326].
7.3.9 Family Mussidae
The extracts of Lobophyllia corymbosa showed 100%
anti-implantation activity in female mice as the most
promising activity observed [7.325].
7.4 Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids (MAAs)
Above all, because they are inhabitants of shallow waters exposed to ultraviolet radiation, symbiotic corals
also produce mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA)
that, as UV-absorbing compounds, possess photoprotective properties [7.333]; they also manufacture other
mycosporines referred to as true multipurpose secondary metabolites against detrimental UV effects, in
combination with other functionalities such as prevention of oxidation reactions [7.334]. Palythoa tubereulosa was the initial source of the mycosporinelike amino acids as natural sunscreens [7.335]. The
unique physical and chemical properties of MAAs
as natural sunscreens prompted an investigation of
their use in healthcare applications and in the formulation of cosmetic products [7.336]. As an example, the commercially available synthetic fungicide, clotrimazole (mycosporin) is a chemical analog of naturally occurring mycosporine-like amino
acids [7.337]. MAAs were also separated from
the Acropora formosa, Stylophora pistillata [7.338–
341], Pocillopora damicornis, and Montipora verrucosa [7.342].
Moreover, the microscopic algal symbionts of
corals, referred to as zooxanthellae, and not coral
cells are in some cases the likely source of the secondary metabolites of interest [7.343]. For example,
anti-inflammatory pseudopterosins were shown to be
produced by the endosymbiotic algae [7.344]. Ultimately, it is worth mentioning that antitumor and anticarcinogenic activities have also been reported for the
unique pigment of dinoflagellate symbionts of corals,
namely peridinin and related compounds [7.345]. The
genus Symbiodinium, for instance, a symbiont of the
Okinawan soft coral Clavularia viridis containing
abundant antitumor marine prostanoids (e.g., clavulones), yielded compounds with significant growthinhibitory activity in vitro toward cancer cells (IC 50 of
2:02:8 g mL
1 ) [7.244].
7.5 Conclusion
Table 7.1 summarizes various coral-derived compounds with diverse therapeutic properties, most of
which necessitate further preclinical examinations to be
commercialized. The substances in Table 7.1 account