LAUSR

Sesquiterpene caulerpenyne (CYN) is the major metabolite present in green macroalgae Caulerpa taxifolia. This metabolite has been shown to be cytotoxic in some cell lines and was found to be active in various assays of pharmacological interest. In addition, it exerts antibiotic, antiviral, phytotoxic, antidyslipidemic, and antiproliferative activities. In the present study, we report that pretreatment with CYN decreases the bradykinin-induced calcium peak in human colon LoVo cells. We hypothesize that CYN pretreatment may adversely affect bradykinin-induced intracellular calcium increases. The data suggest that CYN, by reducing the increase in intracellular calcium, exerts an inhibitory role on calcium homeostasis and, likely, intercellular transmission.