ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS 100. THE MARINE BRYOZOAN AMATHIA CONVOLUTA

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(01)96466-X

An intensive investigation of the marine animal Amathia convoluta (Bryozoa phylum) for antineoplastic constituents has led to the isolation and structural determination of bryostatin 8 (2).A total of 100 kg of Amathia convoluta was required to obtain some 4.2 mg of bryostatin 8.Evaluation of bryostatin 8 against the murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia showed substantial inhibition of growth (PS, cell line ED₅₀, 1.3 x 10^-3, T/C 174 at 0.11 mg/kg).A major part of the very strong antineoplastic activity axhibited by fractions prepared from Amathia convoluta was accounted for by the isolation of bryostatin 4 (1a), 5 (1c) and 6 (1b).All three bryostatins were obtained in yields comparable to that of bryostatin 8 and appear derived from the closely related marine bryozoan Bugula neritina.The epiphytic-like relationship of Bugula neritina to Amathia convoluta is discussed.