Bis and tris indole alkaloids from marine organisms: new leads for drug discovery.

The marine organisms are a rich source of varied natural products with unique functionality. Marine natural products chemistry has undergone an explosive growth during the past three decades. A variety of natural products of new molecular structures with diverse biological activities have been reported from marine flora and fauna, thus ensuring motivation in the search of newer natural products. The bis and trisindole alkaloids are a class of marine natural products that show unique promise in the development of new drug leads. 3-hydroxy staurosporine 51, an indolo carbazole having powerful antiproliferative activity. Hamacanthin A 1 and B 2, pyrazinone alkaloids have significant antimicrobial activity. Coscinamides 60-62 and Chondriamides 63-65 an indolic enamides which have anti-HIV and cytotoxic activity respectively. Gelluisine A 66 and B 67, trisindole alkaloids have strong anti-serotonin activity and strong affinity with somatostatin and neuropeptide Y receptors in receptor-binding assays. This report reviews the literature on these alkaloids of marine origin and highlights the isolation, structure, latest synthesis and specific biological activities including cytotoxicity, antiviral, antiparasitic, serotonin antagonism and other pharmacological activities of sixty-nine bis and trisindole alkaloids.