PHOSPHOLIPASE A(2) INHIBITORS FROM MARINE-ALGAE

Twelve out of twenty-nine compounds isolated from benthic marine algae from the phyla Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta have been found to be potent inhibitors of bee venom derived phospholipase A2 (PLA2) (> 50 %) in the muM range. The compounds investigated were from: Bryopsis pennata, Rhipocephalus phoenix, Caulerpa prolifera, C. racemosa, C. bikinensis, Cymopolia barbata, Laurencia ef. palisada, Laurencia sp., Ochtodes crockeri, Liagora farinosa, Sphaerococcus coronipifolius, Phacelocarpus labillardieri, Dictyota sp., Bifurcaria galapagensis, Stypopodium zonale, Dictyopteris undulata, Stoechospermum marginatum, Dictyopteris divaricata, Dilophusfasciola and Dilophus sp. This is the first report of bee venom PLA2 inhibition in vitro by pure compounds isolated from marine algae.