Amphimedon Viridis  

Amazingly, as porifera are a copious source of bioactive compounds and chemicals, many porifera have been noted for the diversity within the chemicals that they generate. Amphimedon Viridis (Family: Niphatidae, Order: Haplosclerida, Class: Demospongiae), was tested within the Southwestern Atlatnic Ocean. Thus far, it has been proved to demonstrate significant anti-microbial (anti-bacterial/ fungal) activity. Already, several compounds have been isolated from its tissues by various methods.

Specifically, Amphimedon viridis has been tested in Sao Sebastiao channel, near the southeastern Brazilian coast. Several scientists have participated in tests with Amphimedon viridis. Dr. Eduardo Hajdu has been particularly instrumental in such chemical research. Dr. Hajdu helped our team to obtain papers associated with the sponge and several other publications pertaining to porifera. His contributions to our page have been particularly helpful, as have the contributions of the other scientists which with we communicated throughout the duration of our project.

After collection at the depths of three meters, the samples were throroughly cleansed and stored in ethanol.  After an elongated period of time, the specimens were extracted, evaporated, suspended in methanol, and separated with hexane.  After this solvent was evaporated, preparation continued with ethyl acetate and n-butanol.

After such an extensive procedure, a solid residue similar to a brownish gum remained.  Aqueous samples were evaporated, dissolved in methanol, and filtered.  For the process of chromatography, gel filtration by column was used in junction with the application of various instruments.

Following the instrumental analysis, the halitoxin, the most bioactive compound with Amphimedon viridis, was extracted.  However, the isolation of compounds within the porifera was not the most innovative component of the research.  To determine to what the halitoxin was toxic, extensive assays had to be developed.  To grant an imperical perspective, the specimen was hazardous to fish, invertebrates, amphibians, mice, and the usual victim in such tests: bacteria.

While some of these tests may be deemed inhumane, due to the fact that they resulted in death, all perspective will be limited to science, not animal politics.  Here is a description of different ways in which the subject organisms were tested for reaction to the halitoxin within Amphimedon viridis.
 

• Mice- The halitoxin was diluted with several other chemicals such as sodium.  After this dilution, it was injected into the bloodstream of male mice.  Activity was significant, and death of the mice occurred after about twenty-four hours.
• Crustaceans- A walking appendage was separated from an adult blue crab.  After exposing a nerve through dissection, the nerve was exposed to electrodes and the substance.  There was a notable change within activity in the nerve.

Further examination of Amphimedon viridis has isolated an entirely new purine.  It is named Dimethylisoguanine.  After certain tests, it was found that the compound interacted with the muscles of guinea pigs.