Progress on chemical knowledge of ciguatoxins

The chemical data setted up on the ciguatoxins responsible for ciguatera fish poisonings are summarized and discussed. The multiplicity of the toxic compounds isolated from fish and algal material is described. A tentative screening of the principal toxins still on process in the two laboratories has shown that (1) CTX is dominant in carnivorous fish, (2) less polar toxins are dominant in herbivorous fish, (3) CTX precursors are produced by G. toxicus in natura and in culture conditions. The increasing polarity of the toxins in step with the food chain levels supports the hypothesis of an oxidative modification of the precursors during the bio-accumulation in fish.