Detection of secondary metabolites in marine macroalgae using the marsh periwinkle,Littorina irrorata say, as an indicator organism.

Twenty-four chemically profiled organic macroalgal extracts and seven purified natural products were bioassayed using the mesogastropodLittorina irrorata Say to determine if the presence of secondary metabolites in crude algal extracts could be correlated with the activity of the snail. Avoidance behavior by snails in the assay was highly correlated with the presence of secondary metabolites in the macrophyte extracts.