Hypoglycaemic activity of extracts from soft corals of Andaman and Nicobar coasts in rats.

The ethylacetate extract of soft corals collected from Andaman and Nicobar Coasts were screened for hypoglycaemic activity in fasting rats. Rats were divided into 5 groups. Group I received 0.5 ml of 5% gum acacia suspension (control). Group II received the extract of Cladiella australis (CAS), at a dose of 250 mg/kg. Group III received the extract of Sinularia new species (SNS), at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Group IV received the extract of Lamnalia new species (LNS), at a dose of 400 mg/kg and Group V received the extract of 250MF-CBR-13 at a dose of 250 mg/kg. All extracts were administered orally. Blood samples, collected before the administration of test extracts and also at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hr after treatment, were analysed for glucose content. The percentage blood glucose reduction from that of control was also calculated. A very promising hypoglycaemic activity was observed in rats with CAS at 8 hr (42.3%), with SNS at 4 hr (28.34%) and 6 hr (40.6%), with LNS at 6 hr (32.38%) and with MF-CBR-13 at 6 hr (20.25%).

Marine natural products in Brazil. Part 1. Isolation and sctruture determination

Chemistry of marine natural products started in Brazil 35 years ago. Studies focus on invertebrates (Echinoderms, Coelenterates, Porifera, Tunicates and Mollusks) and brown algae, and to a lesser extend green algae, red algae and sharks. Some sixty different organisms have yielded over 110 identified metabolites. So far, steroids, diterpenes and sesquiterpenes have received almost all the attention. Among other metabolites, higher terpenes, long-chain lipids, tyrosine-derived dibromo compounds, two purines and one pyridine alkaloid have been described. This review reports on the history of marine natural product chemistry in Brazil and on the isolation and structure determination of these metabolites. Some unpublished results are presented.