The Application of Natural Products Chemistry and Techniques for the Isolation of Sponge Secondary Metabolites with Bioactivity In Vitro
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Chemistry
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
Marine sponges are a unique source of complex and bioactive natural products from the deep-sea. This includes secondary metabolites, such as the iminoquinones from Latrunculia, with potent cytotoxic activity and selectivity against cancer cells. Isolating and characterizing such molecules involves the application of natural products chemistry techniques. To elucidate the structure, the following techniques were employed: the sponges were soaked in ethyl acetate and isolated using a rotary evaporator and identified using flash chromatography. We also employed characterization (e.g., NMR spectroscopy) to further separate the fractions we have obtained and identify the compounds. We discovered that some fractions contained alkaloids such as discorhabdins and makaluvamines which are known for their biological activity, especially the in vitro inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, the scientific literature of data and results, which is a product of ‘lab benchwork’ research was used. Further testing is still ongoing, but the successful isolation of these compounds can help with future therapeutic potential. The project contributes to the field of natural products in drug discovery by identifying novel marine-derived compounds. More research is needed to verify the cytotoxicity and mechanism of the isolated compounds and may offer an alternative to conventional cancer therapies.
Recommended Citation
Samala, Abhi, "The Application of Natural Products Chemistry and Techniques for the Isolation of Sponge Secondary Metabolites with Bioactivity In Vitro" (2026). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 39.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2026/all/39
Location
Furman Hall 107
Start Date
3-28-2026 10:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
The Application of Natural Products Chemistry and Techniques for the Isolation of Sponge Secondary Metabolites with Bioactivity In Vitro
Furman Hall 107
Marine sponges are a unique source of complex and bioactive natural products from the deep-sea. This includes secondary metabolites, such as the iminoquinones from Latrunculia, with potent cytotoxic activity and selectivity against cancer cells. Isolating and characterizing such molecules involves the application of natural products chemistry techniques. To elucidate the structure, the following techniques were employed: the sponges were soaked in ethyl acetate and isolated using a rotary evaporator and identified using flash chromatography. We also employed characterization (e.g., NMR spectroscopy) to further separate the fractions we have obtained and identify the compounds. We discovered that some fractions contained alkaloids such as discorhabdins and makaluvamines which are known for their biological activity, especially the in vitro inhibition of pancreatic cancer cells. In addition, the scientific literature of data and results, which is a product of ‘lab benchwork’ research was used. Further testing is still ongoing, but the successful isolation of these compounds can help with future therapeutic potential. The project contributes to the field of natural products in drug discovery by identifying novel marine-derived compounds. More research is needed to verify the cytotoxicity and mechanism of the isolated compounds and may offer an alternative to conventional cancer therapies.
