Biologically active compounds from coelenterates
Many coelenterate species produce toxins in order to capture prey or for defence. Most of them are polypeptides and proteins excepting palytoxin, lophotoxin and a few physiologically less active organic compounds e.g. tetramine,serotonin and histamine. Coelenterates also contain other biologically active compounds e.g. prostaglandins with hormonecembrene derivates with antitumor activities and proteinase inhibitors.The present state of knowledge on the most important biologically active compounds from coelenterates is reviewed and a new method for the isolation of the caribbean palytoxin (C-PTX) is described.