2205 



Schmeer, A. C. 1978. 



Marine medicinal factor, mercenene: Biological activity, extraction pro- 

 cedures and chemical characterization. Fed. Proc. 37(3): 317 (abstract 

 563) . 



Among the most promising animals with anticancer, antibacterial, and anti- 

 viral activity is the clam Meroenaria meroenaria. Hydrophilic components 

 are extracted by standard ammonium sulfate precipitation and dialysis to 

 obtain crude samples. Organic solvents are used to collect biologically 

 active compounds that may be among a new family of agents related to those 

 that are water soluble. Samples prepared by both methods of extraction 

 prolong the life of BDF1 mice implanted with P388 lymphocytic leukemia by 

 at least 50%. Various types of liquid chromatography and thin layer chroma- 

 tography (TLC) have been employed to identify the various components. 

 Ultraviolet spectroscopy absorption is observed at 280, 260, and 253 nanom- 

 eters, respectively. Elemental analysis results in a relatively low molecular 

 weight compound of C, H, N, and O that has little or no toxicity in experi- 

 mental animals. - modified author's abstract - J.L.M. 



2206 



Schmeer, A. C. 1979. 



Chemical characterization and biological activity of an anticancer agent of 

 marine origin. Physiol. Chem. Physics 11(5): 415-424. 



The mercenene anticancer principle (sj from Mevcenaria meroenaria are tem- 

 perature dependent. Clams from polluted marine sites have spontaneous 

 neoplasms (4 confirmed cancers in 10,000 clams) but in over 100,000 clams 

 taken from approved, licensed beds not one neoplasm has been cytologically 

 confirmed. Clams from unpolluted sites are biologically active and contain 

 the mercenene anticancer factor, those from polluted areas lack the mercenene 

 effect. The whole body of the youngest animal, the little neck, has the 

 greatest concentration of biological activity, which probably is related to 

 the metabolism of the young clam. Extracts from all ages of Meroenaria 

 demonstrated some anticancer activity in experimental tumorous mice. Fresh 

 material is best. Some deleterious chemical change occurs in cold storage. 

 The presence of carbohydrate, phosphate, peptide, and unidentified material 

 was indicated in the biologically active components. Studies completed at 

 the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute document 

 the effectiveness of mercenene clam extracts against bacteria and viruses, 

 while retaining antineoplastic activity. Any substance having a 3-pronged 

 therapeutic advantage merits intensive further study. - J.L.M. 



2207 



Schmeer, M. Rosarii, and Charles G. Wilber. 1965. 



Mercenene: Growth-inhibitor extracted from natural products. Fed. Proc, 

 Fed. Am. Soc. Exp. Biol. 24(1): 403 (abstract 1514). 



Extracts from edible molluscs have shown an inhibiting and regressing 

 activity on sarcoma-180 and Krebs-2 carcinoma tumor in Swiss mice. Of all 

 species of mollusc studied, Meroenaria meroenaria was the most promising 

 source of mercenene. The active agent, in crude form, can be extracted with 

 water, ammonium sulphate, and organic solvents. Additional purification, 

 using gel filtration, produces a partially purified, effective active prin- 

 ciple that demonstrates growth-inhibitor activity on Krebs-2 carcinoma in 

 female, 3 to 4 week old CFi mice. Bioassay produces a typical mean control 

 tumor weight of approximately 2200 mg. Animals receiving mercenene for 7 

 days may have a mean tumor weight of 750 mg. The greatest concentration of 

 growth-inhibitor occurs in void volume 2 to 3 (V 2 to 3) using sintered 

 glass column 20 mm x 400 mm, Sephadex G-25, and eluant of 0.1 M NaCl or 

 other suitable eluting material. Molecular weight of active principle, mer- 

 cenene, is less than 1000. - J.L.M. 



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