Halomon is in a class of chemical compounds known as halocarbons, which are often potent alkylating agents which may be toxic to individual cells or to living organisms. The red algae that naturally produce halomon and other related compounds probably do so as a poisonous defense against fish or other marine life that may see it as a potential source of food. Halomon, however, is a selective toxin; studies at the National Cancer Institute have indicated that it is more toxic to certain types of tumor cells than to other cells.[1]
The algae that produces halomon is difficult to locate, identify, and collect and the concentration of halomon in the organism is extremely low. Therefore, obtaining a sufficient amount of halomon to conduct preclinical research has been difficult. Consequently, there has been active interest in developing synthetic methods in the laboratory for the preparation of halomon and related compounds.[4][5][6]
^ abFuller, Richard W.; Cardellina, John H., II; Kato, Yoko; Brinen, Linda S.; Clardy, Jon; Snader, Kenneth M.; Boyd, Michael R. (1992). "A pentahalogenated monoterpene from the red alga Portieria hornemannii produces a novel cytotoxicity profile against a diverse panel of human tumor cell lines". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 35 (16): 3007–3011. doi:10.1021/jm00094a012. PMID1501227.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Fuller, Richard W.; Cardellina, John H., II; Jurek, Jaroslaw; Scheuer, Paul J.; Alvarado-Lindner, Belinda; McGuire, Mary; Gray, Glenn N.; Steiner, Jorge Rios; Clardy, Jon; et al. (1994). "Isolation and Structure/Activity Features of Halomon-Related Antitumor Monoterpenes from the Red Alga Portieria hornemannii". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 37 (25): 4407–4411. doi:10.1021/jm00051a019. PMID7996553.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Egorin, Merrill J.; Sentz, Dorothy L.; Rosen, D. Marc; Ballesteros, Michael F.; Kearns, Christine M.; Callery, Patrick S.; Eiseman, Julie L. (1996). "Plasma pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and tissue distribution in CD2F1 mice of halomon, an antitumor halogenated monoterpene isolated from the red algae Portieria hornemannii". Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 39 (1/2): 51–60. doi:10.1007/s002800050537. PMID8995499. S2CID19982545.
^Michael E. Jung; Michael H. Parker (1997). "Synthesis of Several Naturally Occurring Polyhalogenated Monoterpenes of the Halomon Class". Journal of Organic Chemistry. 62 (21): 7094–7095. doi:10.1021/jo971371. PMID11671809.
^Andrianasolo, Eric H.; France, Dennis; Cornell-Kennon, Susan; Gerwick, William H. (2006). "DNA Methyl Transferase Inhibiting Halogenated Monoterpenes from the Madagascar Red Marine Alga Portieria hornemannii". Journal of Natural Products. 69 (4): 576–579. doi:10.1021/np0503956. PMID16643029.