The pterocellins, novel bioactive alkaloids from the marine bryozoan Pterocella vesiculosa.

Two new alkaloids, pterocellins A and B, have been isolated from the New Zealand marine bryozoan Pterocella vesiculosa. Structural elucidation was achieved through NMR and mass spectral analysis in conjunction with a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of pterocellin A. The pterocellins possess a novel heterocyclic skeleton and exhibit potent antitumor activity and antimicrobial activity in vitro but only modest activity in the in vivo hollow fiber assay at the National Cancer Institute.