Antimicrobial and Antineoplastic Tyrosine Metabolites from a Marine Sponge, Aplysina fistularis

Examination of the constituents of a marine sponge, Aplysina fishtularis, indicated that brominated tyrosine metabolites were mainly responsible for antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities. Halogenated tyrosine metabolites, 2, 6-dibromo-(2), 2-bromo-3-chloro-(3) and 2, 6-dibromo-(5), 5-a mino-2-bromo-6-chloro-(6) and 5-amino-2, 6-dich-loro-(7) 4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexenone-4-acetic acid lactams were identified as the major antineoplastic and antimicrobial principles. Many other brominated tyrosine metabolites were also confirmed, but they did not show antimicrobial and antineoplastic activities.