An Outline of Marine Toxinology Studies in the Brazilian coast

Abstract

Over the last 20 years, our group has collected different species of marine organisms occurring in the Brazilian coastline. The pharmacological approach is the evaluation of effects of organic extracts, or purified and isolated compounds in laboratory animals, organs, tissues, and cells to define the profile of biological activity and the mechanisms of action. Different bioassays are currently used including hemolytic cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and neuromuscular junction preparations. Furthermore, biologically active substances are being isolated from dinoflagellates, sponges, sea anemones, and puffer fish collected in the Sa ¨ o Sebastia ¨ o Channel (Sa ¨ o Paulo State, Brazil) and from the mollusk Conus regius collected in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco State, Brazil. These results suggest it may be very worthwhile to extend our studies for new bioactive compounds along the Brazilian coastline.