The aqueous ethanol extract of Thalassia testudinum leaves (BM-21) is now being developed in Cuba as an herbal medicine due to its promising pharmacological properties. Although some interesting biological activities of BM-21 have already been reported, its chemical composition remains mostly unknown. Thus, we now describe the qualitative and quantitative analyzes of BM-21 using standard phytochemical screening techniques, including colorimetric quantification, TLC and HPLC analyses. Phytochemical investigation of BM-21 resulted in the isolation and identification of a new phenolic sulfate ester (1), along with ten previously described phenolic derivatives (2-11), seven of which have never been previously reported from the genus Thalassia. The structures of these compounds were established by analysis of their spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) and spectrometric (HRMS) data, as well as by comparison of these with those reported in the literature. Furthermore, BM-21 was found to exhibit strong antioxidant activity in four different free radical scavenging assays (HO • , RO 2 • , O 2-• and DPPH •). Consequently, this is the first study which highlights the phytochemical composition of BM-21 and demonstrates that this product is a rich source of natural antioxidants with potential applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

Daily topical application of the aqueous ethanolic extract of the marine sea grass, Thalassia testudinum, on mice skin exposed to UVB radiation resulted in a dose-dependent recovery of the skin macroscopic alterations over a 6-day period. Maximal effect (90%) occurred at a dose of 240 microg/cm(2), with no additional effects at higher doses. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the plant extract resulted in the isolation of thalassiolin B (1). Topical application of 1 (240 microg/cm(2)) markedly reduces skin UVB-induced damage. In addition, thalassiolin B scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical with an EC(50) = 100 microg/ml. These results suggest that thalassiolin B is responsible for the skin-regenerating effects of the crude extract of T. testudinum.

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Aqueous and organic fractions from the crude extracts of 17 sponge species collected at Boca de Calderas, Havana, Cuba were analysed. The organic fractions of Mycale laxissima, Clathria echinata and Agelas cerebrum exhibited values of concentrations causing 50% inhibition of in vitro growth of Plasmodium berghei (IC50) of 42.3 ± 5.1, 52 ± 9.7 and 60.3 ± 10.6 μg/mL, respectively, while their selectivity indexes for fibroblast cell lines were 9.45, 4.24 and 8.7, correspondingly. These fractions reduced parasitemia of infected Balb/c mice as well. Selective cytotoxicity indexes against tumour HeLa cells focused an interest on the aqueous fraction of M. laxissima (>7.12) and organic fractions of Polymastia nigra (5.95), A. cerebrum (5.48) and Niphates erecta (>4.2). Triterpenoids/steroids and alkaloids detected in the organic fractions of M. laxissima, C. echinata and A. cerebrum should be isolated for future investigation.

The aqueous ethanolic extract of the marine plant Thalassia testudinum, named BM-21, has powerful antioxidant and antilipoperoxidative activities. The extract also has anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and neuroprotective effect against acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity. Excessive generation of free radicals and decreased levels of the antioxidant enzymes have been observed either during the brain ischemia or following reperfusion. In the present work we studied the neuroprotective potential of BM-21 against brain damage induced by transient bilateral carotid artery occlusion model of global cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Oral administration of BM-21 (400 mg/kg, once a day for 8 days) prior to ischemic insult provides significant neuroprotection with respect to mortality, neurological symptoms, infarct volume and brain edema after. We also found that BM-21 reduces hippocampal neuronal death in the CA1 region and attenuates the increase of lipid peroxidation products (MDA). The extract also improves the activity of SOD and GSHPx and increases the content of GSH in brain homogenates. BM-21 administered at a dose at which the extract showed to be effective as anti-ischemic agent in vivo also reduces susceptibility of brain homogenates of non-ischemic gerbils against metal and non-metal lipid peroxidation in vitro. Taken