Dosage de la caulerpényne, toxine de l'algue verte Caulerpa taxifolia

Summary The caulerpenyne is a toxin isolated from Caulerpa taxifolia which presents a potential risk of human and ecological intoxication. This compound revealed a potent cytotoxicity to fertilized sea urchin eggs. A high performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantification of this toxin in the alga (with refractometric detection) and for its determination in animals (with U.V. detection). The sensibility of the U.V. detection is quite sufficient to follow its becoming in the alimentary chain. The quantification of the toxin has been performed in different organisms (alga, urchins, fishes and aplysia).