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DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1348632
Marine Sponges from Hilo Hawaii and the Au'Au Channel Maui: Description, Identification, Biological Activity and Structure
Sponges are relatively rare in the waters around the Big Island of Hawaii in contrast to other Hawaiian islands and other tropical costal waters around the world. This paucity probably reflects the relative geological age of the Big Island and its remoteness. In an effort to document sponges from this area a survey of waters close to Hilo was undertaken and led to the collection of 13 distinct sponge samples. To date, the majority of these samples have been identified as belonging to the genus Haliclona. For comparative purposes five mesophotic sponges were collected from depths below 80 m, employing an ocean going remotely operated vehicle (ROV), from the Au'au channel off Maui island, a much richer source of sponge biodiversity. Comparison of FRAP based antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of extracted samples from both the Big Island and Maui together with preliminary NMR studies, including that of a new potent antioxidant and antimicrobial meroterpenoid, puupehenol, will be presented.