156 MARINE SCIENCE 
STATEMENT BY DR. PHILIP HELFRICK, ACTING DIRECTOR, HAWAI MARINE 
LABORATORY, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII, HONOLULU, HAWAII 
Re medical and pharmacological implications of expanded research on toxie 
marine organisms as provided for in S. 901, subsections (b), (ce), and (d), 
section 9, and subsections (b) and (c), section 10. 
It has long been known that the waters around islands of the tropical Pacific 
harbor many species of fish and invertebrates that are toxic when eaten. Some 
of these toxic forms have been the subject of scientific investigation, others have 
seldom or never been reported in the scientific literature. 
Very little is known about toxins harbored by marine invertebrates. How- 
ever, during the last 20 years some studies have been made on three groups of 
toxic fishes. Both the puffer fishes, which bear an endogenous toxin, and the 
scombroid fishes, which are toxic due to the rapid action of a bacterium, have 
been studied. A third group of fishes, representing many different families, carry 
a toxin that causes a widespread disease known as ciguatera. This condition is 
presently the subject of a limited study by a group of Scientists at the Hawaii 
Marine Laboratory. 
The presence of the many species of fish bearing ciguatera toxin causes a 
major health problem in the tropical Pacific, both to the native residents aud to 
sojourners. To the natives, the loss of part of the food resources of the sea, their 
principal source of dietary protein, causes an acute nutritional problem in addi- 
tion to the threat of sickness or death. To the sojourners, especially to the mili- 
tary on the widespread bases, the presence of these toxic species, especially such 
normally edible species as red snappers and pompanos or jacks, presents a graye 
and recurrent medical problem. 
The toxin producing ciguatera was selected as the primary focus of the initial 
studies on marine toxins at the Hawaii Marine Laboratory. This disease may 
be produced by eating certain of the species of marine fishes from an affected 
area. These toxie fish, upon being eaten, will cause a variety of symptoms 
ranging from an initial gastrointestinal disorder to acute neurological symptoms 
involving both skin sensation and motor reflexes; acute cases will result in 
temporary paralysis or even death. 
Because there is no known antidote for the treatment of ciguatera, and 
symptomatic treatment is of variable effectiveness, attention has recently been 
turned to the pharmacology of ciguatera toxin in order to learn more of its mode 
of action and thus to develop a more effective medical treatment for the disease. 
In addition to treatment of the disease, knowledge of the pharmacology of such 
a biologically active agent as ciguatera toxin might well lead to its controlled 
use in the treatment of other human maladies. 
Numerous other tropical marine organisms are known, on occasion, to cause 
sickness when ingested by humans. These include certain mullet, sardines, 
sharks, turtles, shore crabs, octopus, and other organisms that are potential 
sourees of food from the marine environment. Very little is known of the 
biology of most of these organisms or the toxicology of the poisons they may con- 
tain. Pharmacological investigations of such toxins that would reveal their 
mode of action would aid in treatment of affliction resulting from their ingestion. 
It may also reveal properties that might prove valuable as drugs for other 
purposes. 
The little explored marine environment offers great promise as a source of 
biologically active agents with potential as drugs for the treatment of the disease. 
For example, preliminary exploratory research has revealed that certain fishes 
found in the Pacifie seasonally contain a substance that causes hallucinations in 
humans. A thorough knowledge of the pharmacology of such a substance might 
vield a drug useful in the treatment of certain nervous disorders. 
In the past, research relating to the discovery and determination of medically 
and pharmacologically important substances from marine organisms has been 
restricted by limitations of funds, facilities, and to some extent the availability 
of trained personnel. Senate bill 901 as proposed, particularly sections 9 and 
10 would greatly encourage and facilitate such research. 
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