Toxicity of crude organic extracts from the zoanthid Palythoa caribaeorum: A biogeography approach

Abstract

Marine isolates such as palytoxin (PTX) are of concern within the Caribbean region due to their toxicity. PTX for example has been described as a one of the most known potent marine toxins, known to prevent predation from larger species (e.g. vertebrates) as well as the prevention of being overgrown from other coral species. PTX is a polyhydroxylated polyether toxin with a very large and complex chemical structure that possesses both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties. Previous acute toxicity tests using brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and PTX extract had shown it to be moderately toxic. In humans, PTX has been credited to be responsible for extreme symptoms such anaphylactic shock, rapid cardiac failure and eventual death occurring within minutes. Extrapolation for human dose ranges has therefore been suggested to be between 2.3 and 31.5 μg. This study isolates a potentially PTX-enriched extract from Palythoa caribaeorum and examines its organic extract toxicity from a biogeography perspective from a within-colony to a variety of reef sites around Trinidad and Tobago that are popular for marine visitors. This research represents an acute study with a high level of crude organic extract toxicity on A. salina whilst postulating potential factors which may contribute to its extreme toxicity and the risk posed to users of these environments.