Chemical profiling and isolation of bioactive metabolites of Gorgonians

This project studies the bioactive properties of the Gorgonians, being carnivorous soft corals with specialised nerve cells. These organisms are intermediate between hard corals and soft corals as they contain a rigid skeleton and are classified under the phylum Cnidarians. Five samples of Gorgonians were studied (Ug#k#spl, UG#k#sp2, Ug#k#sp3, UG#k#sp5, Ug#k#sp6). Yield of crude for all 5 species displayed prominent bioactive properties by inhibiting the growth of environmental bacteria, leading to the isolation of compound 1 from the MeOH crude ofUg#k#sp6. As much as 0.847 g (0.37%) of MeOH crude and 0.936 g (0.41%) of Hexane crude was obtained from the species studied. Therefore, based on spectral data Compound 1 that was isolated from Ug#k#sp6 can be assigned as CgHlg06. This compound is active against Clostridium sordelli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Apart from this, suspected sterols were isolated from all 5 species and a pattern of similarity could be seen as they contained approximately the same Rf value based on Thin Layer Chromatography suggesting their use as biomarkers for species of Gorgonian. Studies on marine natural product shows the various defence of marine organisms towards the environment and isolation of these products can be put to beneficial use through recent advance in biotechnology.