The marine organisms are a rich source of varied natural products with
unique functionality. Marine natural products chemistry has undergone an explosive
growth during the past three decades. A variety of natural products of new
molecular structures with diverse biological activities have been reported from marine
flora and fauna, thus ensuring for us motivation in the search of newer natural
products. The bis and trisindole alkaloids are a class of marine natural products
that show unique promise in the development of new drug leads.3-hydroxy
staurosporine 51, an indolo carbazole having powerful antiproliferative activity.
Hamacanthin A 1 and B 2, pyrazinone alkaloids have significant antimicrobial
activity. Coscinamides 60-62 and Chondriamides 63-65 an indolic enamides which
have anti-HIV and cytotoxic activity respectively. Gelluisine A 66 and B 67,
trisindole alkaloids have strong anti-serotonin activity and strong affinity with
somatostatin and neuropeptide Y receptors in receptor-binding assays. This report
reviews the literature on these alkaloids from marine origin and highlights the
isolation, structure, latest synthesis and specific biological activities include: cytotoxicity,
antiviral, antiparasitic, serotonin antagonism and other pharmacological
activities of sixty-nine bis and trisindole alkaloids.
Keywords: Bis and trisindole alkaloids, enamides, indolocarbazoles.