Preliminary characterization of a toxin isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena

J. E. Eriksson, J. A. O. Meriluoto, H. P. Kujari, K. Österlund K. Fagerlund and L. Hällbom. Preliminary characterization of a toxin isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena. Toxicon 26, 161 – 166, 1988. — A peptide toxin was isolated from the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The i.p. ld 50 of the toxin was 50 μg/kg mouse with death within 1 – 3 hr. The major effects of the toxin were seen in the liver in the form of extensive haemorrhages. Amino acid analysis showed the presence of equimolar amounts of glutamic acid, β-methyl-aspartic acid, and arginine. The toxicological and some of the chemical properties of the isolated toxin were similar to those reported for hepatotoxins isolated from the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa.