Medical Research
Plexaura is a coral that has a large amount of prostaglandins making it a great natural source of a compound called Prostaglandin A2. Prostaglandins can be extracted from Plexaura using dichloromethane/methanol and a rotary evaporator.Research indicates that Prostaglandin A2 may have activity against cancer. Under laboratory conditions prostaglandin A2 was able to inhibit enzymes present in some cancer cells. Prostaglandin A2 has shown to have cytotoxic activity towards both breast cancer and lung cancer cells. Treatment with prostaglandin A2 was also found to have major benefits for lung endothelial cells. Increasing recovery rates, decreasing inflammation and enhancing the endothelial cell barrier.
This compound may have the potential to help people suffering from a respiratory infection recover quicker and easier with less chance of another infection due to the strengthening of the endothelial cell barrier.
''Plexaura'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
of gorgonian-type
octocorals
Octocorallia (also known as Alcyonaria) is a class of Anthozoa comprising around 3,000 species of water-based organisms formed of colonial polyps with 8-fold symmetry. It includes the blue coral, soft corals, sea pens, and gorgonians (sea fan ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Plexauridae
Plexauridae is a family of marine colonial octocorals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of this family are found in shallow tropical and subtropical seas. Many species contain symbiotic photosynthetic protists called zooxanthellae.
Characteristi ...
.
Species
The World Register of Marine Species lists these species:
[
*'' Plexaura aggregata'' Nutting, 1910
*'' Plexaura arbuscula'' Duchassaing, 1850
*'' Plexaura atra'' (Verrill, 1901)
*'' Plexaura attenuata'' Nutting, 1910
*'' Plexaura capoblancoi'' Stiasny, 1936
*'' Plexaura corticosa'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
*'' Plexaura dubia'' Kölliker, 1865
*'' Plexaura edwardsi'' Moser, 1921
*'' Plexaura ehrenbergi'' Kölliker, 1865
*'' Plexaura esperi'' Verrill, 1907
*'' Plexaura flava'' Nutting, 1910
*'' Plexaura flavida'' (Lamarck, 1815)
*'' Plexaura flexuosula'' Kükenthal, 1917
*'' Plexaura fusca'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860
*'' Plexaura hartmeyeri'' Moser, 1921
*'' Plexaura homomalla'' (Esper, 1792)
*'' Plexaura kukenthali'' Moser, 1921
*'' Plexaura kuna'' Lasker, Kim & Coffroth, 1996
*'' Plexaura laevigata'' Moser, 1921
*'' Plexaura miniacea'' Ehrenberg, 1834
*'' Plexaura nina'' Bayer & Deichmann, 1958
*'' Plexaura pinnata'' Nutting, 1910
*'' Plexaura porosa'' (Esper, 1794)
*'' Plexaura racemosa'' Valenciennes, 1855
*'' Plexaura ramosa'' Moser, 1921
*'' Plexaura turgida'' (Ehrenberg, 1834)
*'' Plexaura valenciennesi'' Wright & Studer, 1889
*'' Plexaura volvata'' Kunze, 1917
]
References
Plexauridae
Octocorallia genera
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