turbinaric acid

Turbinaric acid is a cytotoxic secosqualene carboxylic acid from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata.

Turbinaric acid is a sesquiterpene carboxylic acid with moderate cytotoxicity, isolated from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata. Its chemical name is 4,8,13,17,21-pentamethyl-4,8,12,16,20-docosapentaenoic acid[1].

Turbinaric acid is a potent inhibitor of squalene-2,3-epoxide cyclase. It exhibits cytotoxicity against mouse melanoma cells and human colon cancer cells at concentrations of 26.6 μg/ml and 12.5 μg/ml, respectively, and is capable of effectively inhibiting the growth of these cell lines.

[1] Asari F, et al. Turbinaric acid, a cytotoxic secosqualene carboxylic acid from the brown alga Turbinaria ornata. J Nat Prod. 1989 Sep-Oct;52(5):1167-9. DOI:10.1021/np50065a045