1 Cacospongionolide B is a novel marine metabolite isolated from the sponge Fasciospongia cavernosa. In in vitro studies, this compound inhibited phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ), showing selectivity for secretory PLA 2 (sPLA 2 ) versus cytosolic PLA 2 (cPLA 2 ), and its potency on the human synovial enzyme (group II) was similar to that of manoalide. 2 This activity was con®rmed in vivo in the 8 h zymosan-injected rat air pouch, on the secretory enzyme accumulating in the pouch exudate. Cacospongionolide B, that is bioavailable when is given orally, reduced the elevated levels of sPLA 2 present in paw homogenates of rats with adjuvant arthritis. 3 This marine metabolite showed topical anti-in¯ammatory activity on the mouse ear oedema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) and decreased carrageenin paw oedema in mice after oral administration of 5, 10 or 20 mg kg
71. 4 In the mouse air pouch injected with zymosan, cacospongionolide B administered into the pouch, induced a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of eicosanoids and tumour necrosis factor a (TNFa) in the exudates 4 h after the stimulus. It also had a weak eect on cell migration. 5 The in¯ammatory response of adjuvant arthritis was reduced by cacospongionolide B, which did not signi®cantly aect eicosanoid levels in serum, paw or stomach homogenates and did not induce toxic eects. 6 Cacospongionolide B is a new inhibitor of sPLA 2 in vitro and in vivo, with anti-in¯ammatory properties in acute and chronic in¯ammation. This marine metabolite was active after oral administration and able to modify TNFa levels, and may oer an interesting approach in the search for new anti-in¯ammatory agents.