NEW HOPE ON DRUG LEADS DEVELOPMENT FROM DEEP OCEAN: HALOGENATED ALKALOIDS OF AGELAS SPONGES
Abstract: Agelas sponge is
found in abundancy from Indonesia’s ocean. This sponge produces an important
chemotaxonomic group of compounds, derived from pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids.
This group of compounds is one of those exclusively found from marine
environment. Marine sponges are reported to be promising drug lead producers
having unique chemical structures of which many have no terrestrial
counterparts. The objective of this report is to give an overview of the
reported attempts from up to down stream to develop pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids
as new drug lead. Literatures up to 2013 reporting this group of compounds from
Agelas sponges were studied. Discussion on the halogenated alkaloids covers the
producers, description of high chemical diversity, identification, biosynthesis
and ecological relevance as well as their role as a promising drug candidate.
Alternatives to provide continous supplies for drug development are also
discussed considering that wild harvesting of the sponge producers can lead to
ecological damage in the future . Broad range of interesting pharmacological
importance as well as several success in developing synthetic route for
production supports its development as drug candidate.
Author: Triana Hertiani
Journal Code: jpfarmasigg140032
