Chemical defenses of the tropical marine seaweed Canistrocarpus cervicornis against herbivory by sea urchin
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-87592010000300004Palabras clave:
Canistrocarpus cervicornis, Chemical defenses, Dolastanes, DiterpenesResumen
This paper reports on the defensive chemical properties of the marine tropical brown seaweed Canistrocarpus cervicornis against herbivory. A natural concentration of dichloromethane crude extract (DCE) obtained from this seaweed significantly inhibited feeding by the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus. The major metabolite isolated from this active DCE extract was identified as the (4R,7R,14S)-4α,7α-diacetoxy-14-hydroxydolast-1(15),8-diene that strongly inhibited feeding by the same sea urchin. This result suggests that the dolastane diterpenes class may constitute the defensive system of C. cervicornis against herbivory, and probably also of that of other brown seaweeds endowed with a biosynthetic pathway capable of producing compounds of the dolastane-type, a typical skeleton found in Dyctioteae species worldwide. This is the first report showing this compound-type (dolastane diterpenes) as a chemical defense against herbivory in marine seaweeds. This study constitutes an additional report broadening the known spectrum of action and roles of secondary metabolites of the C. cervicornis and Dyctioteae species.Descargas
Los datos de descarga aún no están disponibles.
Descargas
Publicado
2010-09-01
Número
Sección
naodefinida
Cómo citar
Chemical defenses of the tropical marine seaweed Canistrocarpus cervicornis against herbivory by sea urchin . (2010). Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, 58(3), 213-218. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-87592010000300004