Toxicity of Benthic Dinoflagellates Found in Coral Reef

Abstract

Five species of dinoflagellates and three microalgae of benthic habitat collected in French Polynesia were grown in unialgal state and tested for toxicity on mice and for hemolytic activity. Two diethyl ether soluble toxins (PL toxin-I, II) and one fast-acting toxin soluble in 1-butanlo (PL toxin-III) were found in Prorocentrum lima. The chromatographic behaviors of PL toxin-I and II closely resembled those of scaritoxin and ciguatoxin prepared from ciguateric fishes. Potent hemolytic substance was present in Amphidinium sp. This species was also toxic to mice. No remarkable activity was detected in the following species: Coolia monotis, Amphidinium sp.-2, and Gymnodinium sp. (dinoflagellates); Chloococcopsis sp. and Isochrysis sp. (blue-green algae); and Nitzschia panduriformis (diatom).