Chemical Diversity and Biological Properties of Secondary Metabolites from Sea Hares of Aplysia Genus. 2016

Renato B Pereira, and Paula B Andrade, and Patrícia Valentão
REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, R. Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. ren.pereira@gmail.com.

The marine environment is an important source of structurally-diverse and biologically-active secondary metabolites. During the last two decades, thousands of compounds were discovered in marine organisms, several of them having inspired the development of new classes of therapeutic agents. Marine mollusks constitute a successful phyla in the discovery of new marine natural products (MNPs). Over a 50-year period from 1963, 116 genera of mollusks contributed innumerous compounds, Aplysia being the most studied genus by MNP chemists. This genus includes 36 valid species and should be distinguished from all mollusks as it yielded numerous new natural products. Aplysia sea hares are herbivorous mollusks, which have been proven to be a rich source of secondary metabolites, mostly of dietary origin. The majority of secondary metabolites isolated from sea hares of the genus Aplysia are halogenated terpenes; however, these animals are also a source of compounds from other chemical classes, such as macrolides, sterols and alkaloids, often exhibiting cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and/or antifeedant activities. This review focuses on the diverse structural classes of secondary metabolites found in Aplysia spp., including several compounds with pronounced biological properties.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008974 Mollusca A phylum of the kingdom Metazoa. Mollusca have soft, unsegmented bodies with an anterior head, a dorsal visceral mass, and a ventral foot. Most are encased in a protective calcareous shell. It includes the classes GASTROPODA; BIVALVIA; CEPHALOPODA; Aplacophora; Scaphopoda; Polyplacophora; and Monoplacophora. Molluscs,Mollusks,Mollusc,Molluscas,Mollusk
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001048 Aplysia An opisthobranch mollusk of the order Anaspidea. It is used frequently in studies of nervous system development because of its large identifiable neurons. Aplysiatoxin and its derivatives are not biosynthesized by Aplysia, but acquired by ingestion of Lyngbya (seaweed) species. Aplysias
D001688 Biological Products Complex pharmaceutical substances, preparations, or matter derived from organisms usually obtained by biological methods or assay. Biologic,Biologic Drug,Biologic Product,Biological,Biological Drug,Biological Medicine,Biological Product,Biologics,Biopharmaceutical,Natural Product,Natural Products,Biologic Drugs,Biologic Medicines,Biologic Pharmaceuticals,Biologic Products,Biological Drugs,Biological Medicines,Biologicals,Biopharmaceuticals,Products, Biological,Drug, Biologic,Drug, Biological,Drugs, Biologic,Drugs, Biological,Medicine, Biological,Medicines, Biologic,Medicines, Biological,Pharmaceuticals, Biologic,Product, Biologic,Product, Biological,Product, Natural
D055808 Drug Discovery The process of finding chemicals for potential therapeutic use. Drug Prospecting,Discovery, Drug,Prospecting, Drug
D059001 Aquatic Organisms Organisms that live in water. Marine Organisms,Aquatic Organism,Marine Organism,Organism, Aquatic,Organism, Marine,Organisms, Aquatic,Organisms, Marine
D064210 Secondary Metabolism A physiochemical process which occurs in a wide range of organisms which unlike BASAL METABOLISM is not required for or essential to short-term survivability but to long-term general well-being of the organism. Metabolism, Secondary,Metabolisms, Secondary,Secondary Metabolisms

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