Antifouling substances against the mussel [Mytilus edulis] in an octocoral Dendronephthya sp

In a study of antifouling substances against the blue mussel Mytilus edulis L., 11 out of 23 acetone extracts of marine invertebrates collected in the Ogasawara Islands showed antifouling activities. One of active species, an octocoral Dendronephthya sp., gave sterols and a fatty acid mixture mainly composing of C16, and C18 acids as active constituents. A comparison of the antifouling activities of various fatty acids suggested that unsaturated fatty acids were thought to be responsible for the activity. Since fatty acids were commonly detected in other active extracts, they might play an important role in antifouling activities in marine invertebrates.