The glycoterpenoid syphonoside (
1) is the main secondary metabolite of both the marine mollusk
Syphonotageographica and the sea-grass
Halophila stipulacea, two Indo-Pacific species migrated to the MediterraneanSea through the Suez Canal. The structure and the absolute stereochemistry of
1, which displays uniquestructural features, has been accomplished by using a combination of spectroscopic techniques, degradationreactions, and conformational analysis methods. Compound
1 was able to inhibit high density inducedapoptosis in a number of human and murine carcinoma cell lines.