Spirolides and Cyclic Imines: Toxicological Profile

International audienceIn this chapter, we review available evidence on the toxicological profile of spirolides and other lipophilic cyclic imine toxins, highlighting their chemical structure, the phytoplankton species involved in their production, their pharmacokinetics/toxicokinetics and experimental toxicity, and their molecular targets and mechanisms of action. These phycotoxins belong to an emerging class of chemical agents associated with marine algal blooms and shellfish toxicity. Their chemical structure is represented by a macrocycle, with the ring size between 14 and 27, and two conserved features that include the cyclic imine group and spiroketal ring system. The producers of spirolides, gymnodimines and pinnatoxins have been identified as being the dinoflagellates Alexandrium ostenfeldii/peruvianum, Karenia selliformis and Vulcanodinium rugosum. Their acute toxicity