PHYSIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCE ORIGINATING FROM SPONGE OF GENUS RHOPALOEIDES

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject new physiologically active substance originating from a sponge of the-genus Rhopaloeides, exhibiting physiological activity to specifically inhibit the invagination of the gastrocele in the embryogenesis of Asterina pectinifera, having antitumor activity and useful as an antitumor agent, a biochemical reagent, etc. ;SOLUTION: The objective substance is rhopaloic acid (salt) consisting of 3,7-epoxy-2-methylene-6(4,8,12-trimethyl-3,7,11tridecatrienyl)heptanoic acid (salt) of the formula (a new compound). It exhibits a physiological activity to specifically inhibit the invagination of the gastrocele in the embryogenesis of Asterina pectinifera, exhibits cytotoxicity against various tumor cells and has an antitumor activity and, accordingly is useful as an antitumor agent, an agent for the investigation of the mechanism of embryogenesis, etc. The compound can be produced by cutting a sponge of the genus Rhopaloeides into small pieces, extracting with methanol, extracting the extraction residue with an acetone/chloroform mixture, extracting the extract with hexane and purifying the extracted fraction by chromatography.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1997,JPO