Anthozoans, metabolites from

Aiello, A., Fattorusso, E., Magno, S., Misuraca, G., and Novellino, E. (1987a) 2-Amino-6(14R,2 S)-l, 2 -dihydroxypropyl-3methyl-pterin-4-one, a biologically active metabolite from the anthozoan Astroides calycularis Pallas. Experientia, 43, 950-952. 

In the cnidarians, the true medusae (Cubozoa) contain unusual toxic polypeptides in their nematocysts. The anthozoans are characteristic for the production of lower terpenoids similar to those from terrestrial plants (Pietra 1995). Bryozoans, in analogy with the sponges, are only productive in the sea, giving unusual metabolites, in particular novel macrolides (Table 9.1). 

Preservation of natural products from the animals is more difficult. Zoos remain living stores of animals that, like the civet cat and the amphibians, give unusual metabolites. Aquaria might serve the same scope for marine invertebrates. However, many productive species, such as the sponges and the anthozoans, do not survive long in aquaria. 

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